The presidential candidates of the Accord Party, African Action Congress (AAC) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) have resolved to work together towards building a common democratic force ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The candidates—Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim of the Accord Party, Omoyele Sowore of the AAC and Prince Adewole Adebayo of the SDP—reached the agreement at a meeting held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over the weekend.
The meeting focused on Nigeria’s democracy, economy and security, with the opposition leaders expressing concern over what they described as the growing concentration of political power, weakening democratic institutions and shrinking space for genuine political competition.
They warned that Nigeria risked moving from a competitive multi-party democracy to what they described as “a coronation disguised as an election.”
The candidates consequently agreed to align their political forces to present Nigerians with a joint democratic alternative in 2027.
According to them, the proposed alliance would seek to mobilise workers, youths, women, professionals, entrepreneurs, civil society organisations and Nigerians across ethnic, religious, regional and political divides.
They said the structure, modalities and choice of a presidential candidate for the proposed alliance would be determined through consultation, stressing that “the larger national interest must take precedence over individual political ambitions.”
The three opposition leaders also demanded an immediate review of cases involving Nigerians detained or imprisoned over political expression, self-determination advocacy or the peaceful exercise of constitutionally protected rights.
They specifically called for the release of Nnamdi Kanu and Bichia Maisango, whom they identified as advocates of the political and cultural rights of their respective communities.
The candidates also called for an end to what they described as the legal and political persecution of Sowore over his political activities.
They, however, stressed that their position did not necessarily amount to an endorsement of the views or methods of the individuals concerned.
“Democratic societies must accommodate dissent and peaceful disagreement,” they said.
The opposition leaders further called on the international community, democratic governments, regional institutions and international human-rights organisations to monitor Nigeria’s democratic trajectory.
They alleged that individuals within the security architecture, electoral institutions, judiciary, legislature and executive were attempting to weaken opposition parties, manipulate public institutions and frustrate genuine political competition.
While rejecting foreign interference in Nigeria’s sovereign affairs, they called for accountability where public officials or institutional authorities abuse their positions to undermine constitutional democracy.
They also urged international partners to document credible evidence of democratic reversals and consider lawful measures, including targeted visa restrictions, against individuals found to have participated in such activities.
“Nigeria’s multi-party democracy must be preserved. No individual, political party, security agency, electoral official or institution is bigger than the Nigerian Constitution,” they declared.
Opposition Criticises Economic Policies
The three presidential candidates also criticised the economic policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and the devaluation of the naira.
They argued that the policies had contributed to rising living costs, declining purchasing power, unemployment and widespread economic hardship.
They called for urgent economic reforms, including substantial salary reviews towards achieving a genuine living wage, stronger domestic production, investment promotion, job creation and measures to reduce inflation.
On insecurity, the opposition leaders demanded a proactive national security strategy centred on intelligence, technology, adequately equipped security forces, community cooperation, economic opportunities and effective prosecution of offenders.
They rejected what they described as appeasement, selective enforcement and political complicity that allowed violent groups to operate with impunity.
The candidates pledged to defend Nigeria’s multi-party system and resist what they described as political monopolisation.
“A democracy without meaningful opposition is merely an electoral ritual,” they said, reaffirming the constitutional right of Nigerians to form political parties, contest elections, disagree with government and offer alternative programmes without intimidation.
They further maintained that national unity must be built on justice and inclusion.
“Unity cannot be built by suppressing differences; it must be built by guaranteeing justice within diversity,” they said.
The proposed alliance, they added, was not merely an anti-incumbency arrangement but an attempt to develop a credible governing alternative anchored on democratic accountability, economic justice, security, institutional reform, social inclusion and national development.
Democratic Renewal Movement Launched in Port Harcourt
Meanwhile, the Movement for Democratic Renewal (MDR) for the South-South and South-East zones was launched on Saturday in Port Harcourt, with speakers calling for greater unity to rescue Nigeria’s democracy and restore hope to citizens.
The movement is co-chaired by Olawepo-Hashim and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
Leaders of the NLC and industrial unions gathered at the NLC Labour House in Port Harcourt to deliberate on what they described as a fundamental national question: how to rescue Nigeria’s democracy and restore hope to millions of Nigerians.
Speaking at the event, Olawepo-Hashim said Nigeria had historically possessed enormous economic potential but accused successive leaders of failing to harness the country’s resources for national development.
He said Nigeria’s prosperity continued until around 1976, when the country was a lender rather than a borrowing nation.
“Today, industrialisation has gone out of Nigeria. But we must rescue our democracy. Any democracy that abandons the welfare of the workers is a mirage,” he said.
Also speaking, SDP presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo urged Nigerians to reject intimidation and political pressure ahead of future elections.
“All workers must vote, because our problem is that our leaders today see themselves as colonial masters in black skin,” he said.
Adebayo stressed the importance of ideological unity, arguing that political movements must develop the capacity not only to protest but also to govern.
“Unity is important. For people, we can only be united by ideology. You must raise cadres not for protest alone, but for government,” he said.
Ajaero, who was represented at the event by Denja Yakub, said Nigerians could not depend on others to rescue the country.
“Nobody will fight for us. We need to fight for ourselves. There will never be industry for us if we don’t have worker-friendly people in power,” he said.
NLC chairmen from Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa, Edo, Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia and Ebonyi states attended the event.
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