2027 consensus candidate: opposition parties set up five committees

Opposition political parties have established five specialised committees to develop a framework for producing a consensus presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The committees, which are expected to submit their reports within 30 days, were constituted at an opposition stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Monday.

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The committees are to work on the National Covenant for Democratic Renewal; Single-Term Transition Charter; National Reform Programme; Framework for Opposition Unity; and Roadmap to a Common Presidential Candidate.

The outcome of the committees’ work is expected to form the basis for the parties’ next consultative meeting, according to a communiqué issued at the end of the gathering and read by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Afam Ogene.

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The meeting, convened by civil society pressure group, G-100, in collaboration with the House of Representatives Minority Caucus, also sought to build consensus around the proposed four-year transition government and a common opposition platform ahead of the 2027 elections.

However, some of the major opposition presidential contenders, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), were absent from the meeting.

Their running mates, Rotimi Amaechi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, were also absent, having earlier indicated their unwillingness to attend the summit.

Among those who attended were the Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, and his running mate, Usman Bugaje; Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate, Donald Duke; Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) candidate, Moses Olusola; and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) vice-presidential candidate, Lawal Daura.

Presenting the resolutions of the meeting, Ogene said the participants had agreed to pursue a structured negotiation process aimed at building a united opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said, “We agreed, as national chairmen and principal leaders of our respective parties, to commit to a structured process of negotiation on the framework for opposition cooperation ahead of the 2027 general election.

“This commitment reflects our shared recognition that the challenges confronting our nation—insecurity, the rising cost of living, and the scarcity of jobs—demand a level of political cooperation that transcends the narrow interests of any single party.”

To coordinate the negotiation process, the communiqué also announced the establishment of three standing coalition organs: a central leadership committee to serve as the political arbiter; a publicity and communication committee to coordinate joint messaging; and a legal committee responsible for drafting the necessary constitutional and legal instruments.

Earlier, Director-General of G-100 and former Director-General of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), Salihu Lukman, warned that continued fragmentation among opposition parties could give the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) an easy victory in 2027.

Lukman urged the parties to focus on agreeing on clear procedures for selecting a common candidate rather than allowing individual ambitions to dominate the process.

“It is unfortunate that the opposition has repeatedly contested presidential elections in pieces, allowing the ruling party to benefit from the division of opposition votes,” he said.

The House Minority Leader, Frederick Agbedi, called on opposition leaders to put the economic hardship confronting Nigerians above their individual political ambitions.

“Nigeria is in pain. Nigeria is suffering. If we are united, what the APC did in 2015, we can repeat it. For us, there is no issue of a preferred candidate,” Agbedi said.

ADC National Vice-Chairman (South-South), Usani U. Usani, who led his party’s delegation to the meeting, urged members of the coalition to intensify efforts to defeat the APC in 2027.

“This project(APC’s defeat) is possible, and it is a case of now or never,” Usani said.

National Chairman of the PRP, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, cautioned that no single opposition party could defeat the APC on its own and urged the opposition to work collectively to ensure the success of the initiative.

“No party alone can defeat the APC. This coalition represents a genuine sign of hope for Nigerians”, Baba-Ahmed.

Former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, said personal and financial interests had for too long taken precedence over the national interest.

“Personal and pecuniary interests have taken precedence over national interest for too long.

“It is our responsibility to follow this process through,” he said.

Aliyu also urged the G-100 leadership to extend the initiative to the state and local government levels to enable opposition members at the grassroots to understand and participate in the process.

In his goodwill message, SDP National Chairman, Sadiq Gombe, said the political situation required an urgent national intervention.

According to him, “The political situation requires an urgent national rescue effort. In 2023, opposition candidates collectively secured over two-thirds of the total votes cast.”

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