2027: OPPOSITION PARTIES BEGIN TALKS ON SINGLE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE ~ Punch Newspaper

Opposition political parties and key stakeholders have commenced consultations on the possibility of presenting a single presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections.

The consultations are being coordinated under the G-100 platform, which is seeking to promote greater unity among opposition parties and build a credible political alternative ahead of the election.

As part of the process, the group is scheduled to hold a unity summit in Abuja on August 18, 2026.

The planned summit follows consultations with leaders of six opposition parties — the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP).

G-100 said the discussions centred on the need for opposition parties to overcome political differences and work towards a coordinated platform capable of offering Nigerians a credible alternative in 2027.

The group stressed that achieving opposition unity would require sacrifice, compromise and a willingness by political actors to place national interest above individual and party ambitions.

According to the platform, the August 18 summit will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to deliberate on the practical framework for cooperation and determine how the opposition can work together ahead of the elections.

G-100 said it would facilitate the discussions without imposing an outcome on the participating parties, noting that any agreement must emerge from genuine dialogue and consensus.

The initiative is also drawing on the Ibadan Declaration, which called on opposition parties to explore a credible pathway towards presenting a single presidential candidate in the 2027 presidential election.

While the platform said it was encouraged by the level of convergence recorded during its consultations, it acknowledged that political goodwill must be translated into a workable agreement if the proposed alliance is to succeed.

It warned that continued fragmentation among opposition parties could weaken their ability to mount an effective challenge in the 2027 elections.

The development comes as political parties continue the process of submitting their presidential candidates and running mates through the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal ahead of the 2027 elections.