Efforts to unite Nigeria’s opposition parties ahead of the 2027 presidential election are facing fresh challenges, as disagreements over a possible common candidate continue to test relations between the camps of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi.
The G100 opposition coalition is exploring ways to bring political parties together under a coordinated strategy to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the polls.
According to a report by The Guardian on Monday, October 19, the group is considering five political parties as part of its efforts to narrow the field of contenders and build a more coordinated opposition front.
The parties reportedly under consideration are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
However, the question of who should lead any proposed common ticket remains a major point of disagreement among opposition figures.
Atiku, who is associated with the ADC’s presidential bid, and Obi, who is seeking the presidency under the NDC, remain central figures in the negotiations.
Former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has reportedly argued that opposition parties should rally behind Atiku, citing his assessment of the former vice-president’s geographical reach and electoral prospects.
On the other hand, political economist and Big Tent Coalition convener, Professor Pat Utomi, has maintained his support for an Obi-Kwankwaso ticket under the NDC.
The competing positions highlight the difficulty of persuading prominent political figures to set aside their individual ambitions in favour of a single candidate.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Social Democratic Party presidential hopeful Adewole Adebayo are also reportedly maintaining their own presidential ambitions.
The G100’s approach is to continue monitoring the candidates and the political landscape before making further decisions on its proposed framework for opposition cooperation.
The negotiations have also raised questions about whether all participating parties are committed to selecting a single presidential candidate or are primarily seeking broader electoral cooperation.
In a report published by Premium Times on October 17, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said the discussions facilitated by the G100 were focused on electoral cooperation, including protecting votes, rather than producing a single presidential candidate.
The clarification points to differences in how the coalition’s objectives are understood by participating parties and organisers.
G100 convener Salihu Lukman has said the initiative involves opposition party leaders and working groups tasked with developing proposals for cooperation, including options for a consensus candidate.
With the 2027 election approaching, opposition leaders face the challenge of agreeing on a workable arrangement while accommodating competing party interests and presidential ambitions.
A common candidate could form part of a broader strategy for cooperation, but the latest developments show that agreement on leadership and the structure of any alliance remains uncertain.
For now, no final agreement on a single opposition presidential candidate has been announced, leaving the coalition’s next steps and the positions of the major contenders to be watched as consultations continue.