The political atmosphere ahead of the 2027 presidential election assumed a new dimension on Monday as prominent opposition figures gathered in Abuja for a high-level summit aimed at forging a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Among the early arrivals at the meeting held at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre were former Cross River State Governor and presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party, Donald Duke; Social Democratic Party presidential candidate, Adewale Adebayo; and former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu.
The summit, convened by political pressure group, G-100, brought together leaders and representatives of various opposition parties seeking a common strategy ahead of the next general elections.
Also present at the gathering were the Allied Peoples Movement vice presidential candidate, Lawal Daura; PRP National Chairman, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed; SDP vice presidential candidate, Usman Bugaje; House of Representatives Minority Leader, Fred Agbedi; and National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Bolaji Abdullahi.
The meeting comes amid growing discussions among opposition parties over the need for greater collaboration to mount a stronger challenge against President Bola Tinubu and the APC in 2027.
Addressing participants at the event, the convener of G-100, Salihu Lukman, urged political parties to move beyond individual ambitions and focus on creating a broad platform capable of addressing Nigeria’s challenges.
Lukman stressed that the objective was not to force political parties into a merger but to encourage cooperation and build a framework for collective action.
“We are not asking any political party to dissolve. Let us agree that we must build the table before negotiating the seats,” he said.
The statement highlighted the growing pressure on opposition parties to overcome internal divisions that have historically weakened their electoral chances.
With the 2027 election cycle approaching, political observers have continued to watch moves by opposition leaders to develop a coordinated strategy capable of competing effectively against the ruling party.
The Abuja summit represents one of the latest attempts by opposition stakeholders to create a broader alliance, although questions remain over possible leadership arrangements, candidate selection and the ability of the various parties to sustain cooperation beyond political meetings.
As the race towards 2027 gradually gathers momentum, the outcome of such engagements could shape the structure of Nigeria’s next major political contest.
