Presidential candidates and opposition leaders, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Seyi Makinde, Donald Duke, Adebayo Adewole Ebenezer and 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, civil society organisations, leaders of thought and Nigerians of good conscience, in which the group unveiled what it described as the “Doctrine of Necessary Democratic Opposition.”
The doctrine advocates the emergence of a credible and competitive opposition capable of providing Nigerians with a viable alternative to the ruling party.
The G100, led by Salihu Lukman, said in a statement 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 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 consultations are taking place amid concerns that the emergence of multiple opposition candidates could divide the anti-APC vote and potentially strengthen the ruling party’s chances in 2027.
According to the G100, discussions with opposition leaders have revealed a growing recognition of the need for greater cooperation, although no agreement has yet been reached on a common presidential candidate or the structure of a possible alliance.
The group said the consultations had deliberately been kept away from the media to allow political actors to negotiate freely without the pressure associated with premature publicity.
It added that building a successful opposition alliance would require trust, compromise and a willingness by political actors to place broader national interests above individual and party ambitions.
Atiku-Obasanjo Rift Political, Not Personal — Aide
Meanwhile, Atiku’s Senior Political Assistant, Demola Olarewaju, has described the lingering disagreement between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his former deputy, Atiku Abubakar, as political rather than personal.
Olarewaju made the remarks during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, where he appeared alongside the Executive Director of the Centre for Responsive Governance (CRG), Ayodeji Ologun.
He said Atiku continued to hold Obasanjo in high regard despite their political differences, insisting that there was no personal animosity between the two former leaders.
According to Olarewaju, the disagreement was largely rooted in politics, alleging that Obasanjo had opposed Atiku’s ambition to become President.
He also described Obasanjo’s political activities since leaving office in 2007 as a “journey of redemption,” suggesting that the former President had over the years sought to rebuild his relationship with the Yoruba people.
Olarewaju further argued that merely changing the occupant of the Presidency without addressing the underlying structures of governance would not solve Nigeria’s problems.
Ologun, in his contribution, said Obasanjo’s position on Atiku had changed considerably over the years.
He recalled that Obasanjo spoke favourably about Atiku in the build-up to the 2019 presidential election, particularly regarding the former vice president’s understanding of governance.
Ologun noted that Atiku’s performance as vice president during Obasanjo’s administration demonstrated that the two men had maintained a strong working relationship while in government.
Wike Denies Lobbying for APC Campaign DG Role
Meanwhile, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has denied reports that he is lobbying to become Director-General of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 elections.
Wike, who reaffirmed his support for President Tinubu’s re-election bid, said he did not need to occupy any formal position in the President’s campaign structure to contribute to his electoral victory.
The minister made the clarification through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, who dismissed the reports as false.
Wike maintained that his support for Tinubu’s re-election was not dependent on securing a position in the campaign organisation.
Tinubu Support Group Dismisses Opposition Coalition
In a related development, campaigners under the aegis of the Renewed Hope Project 2027 have dismissed the proposed opposition alliance, describing it as no threat to President Tinubu’s re-election prospects.
The Chairman of the group’s Board of Trustees, retired Major-General Abdulmalik Jibril, described the proposed opposition coalition as an “exercise in futility.”
Jibril, who spoke during the inauguration and official unveiling of the Renewed Hope Project 2027, said the outcome of the 2027 presidential election would ultimately be determined by the performance of the Tinubu administration rather than political calculations.
The event, themed “A New Beginning, A Shared Vision, With Greater Nigeria,” was attended by political stalwarts, government officials and youths from across the country.
Jibril maintained that the coming together of opposition politicians would not undermine Tinubu’s chances of securing a second term.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Renewed Hope Project 2027, Dauda Salihu, said the organisation would take the administration’s policies, programmes and achievements to Nigerians at the grassroots.
He said the project would focus on communicating the government’s agenda directly to voters and encouraging citizens to assess the Tinubu administration based on its record.
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