Presidential hopefuls and opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Donald Duke, Adebayo Adewole Ebenezer and Senator Sandy Onor, have commenced fresh consultations aimed at forging a common political front against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The consultations, facilitated by the G100, followed its August 2, 2026 open letter to opposition leaders, leaders of thought, civil society organisations and Nigerians of good conscience, in which the group unveiled what it described as the “Doctrine of Necessary Democratic Opposition.”
The doctrine, according to the group, is designed to promote a credible, competitive and united opposition capable of providing Nigerians with a viable alternative to the ruling APC in the next general elections.
The G100, led by Malam Salihu Lukman, disclosed in a statement on Monday that it had engaged the leadership of six opposition parties, including presidential candidates, running mates and national chairmen, as part of efforts to build consensus ahead of the 2027 elections.
The parties involved in the consultations are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The initiative is coming against the backdrop of concerns within opposition circles that the proliferation of presidential candidates could fragment opposition votes and inadvertently strengthen the electoral prospects of the APC.
According to the G100, its consultations have so far indicated a growing recognition among opposition leaders that greater cooperation would be required to mount an effective challenge to the ruling party.
However, the group stressed that no agreement had yet been reached on a consensus presidential candidate or the precise structure of any proposed alliance.
The G100 said the ongoing engagements were intended to encourage opposition parties and political actors to put aside narrow partisan interests and explore areas of common understanding capable of producing a stronger electoral platform.
It said the Doctrine of Necessary Democratic Opposition was anchored on the need to strengthen democratic competition and ensure that Nigerians have meaningful choices at the ballot box in 2027.
The group further indicated that the consultations would continue with other political stakeholders, leaders of thought and civil society actors as efforts intensify to develop a broad-based opposition arrangement.
The emerging engagement is expected to test the willingness of the various opposition blocs to negotiate issues surrounding leadership, presidential candidacy, power-sharing arrangements and the organisational structure of a possible coalition.
For now, however, the discussions remain at the consultation stage, with the political actors yet to announce a formal coalition or consensus candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
