A coalition of opposition political parties under the platform of G100 has proposed the creation of a Government of National Competence anchored on a single four-year transition term as part of efforts to build a united front ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The proposal was presented by Mallam Salihu Moh. Lukman during the Summit of Nigeria’s Opposition Political Parties held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.
The summit attracted representatives of several opposition parties, including 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).
Lukman said the proposed government would be founded on competence, integrity, national inclusion and fair representation among participating political parties.
He explained that the arrangement would be guided by a disciplined four-year National Reset Programme supported by an enforceable Transition Charter.
“The framework proposes something more demanding than a merger of ambitions: a Government of National Competence, built on competence, integrity, national inclusion and fair representation,” Lukman said.
He stressed that any agreement reached by the opposition parties must go beyond verbal commitments and should contain clear mechanisms for enforcement.
According to him, Nigeria’s political history has shown that promises often become difficult to sustain when individuals change their positions after gaining power.
“The agreement must be written, it must be witnessed, and it must have consequences,” he stated.
Lukman traced the history of opposition politics since 1999, noting that opposition parties achieved electoral victory in 2015 because they established a framework for cooperation before deciding on candidates.
He argued that the division of opposition votes in the 2023 presidential election contributed to the emergence of the ruling party despite the combined votes of major opposition candidates exceeding that of the eventual winner.
He described the outcome as a failure of coordination rather than a conspiracy, stressing that opposition parties must develop stronger cooperation if they hope to challenge the ruling party in 2027.
The G100 convener proposed three major structures to coordinate the opposition alliance.
These include a Central Leadership Committee comprising national chairmen, national secretaries and presidential and vice-presidential candidates to provide political direction; a Publicity and Communication Committee to coordinate messaging; and a Legal Committee to manage legal strategies and coalition-related issues.
He also disclosed that five working groups would be established to produce policy documents within four weeks.
The proposed documents will focus on a National Covenant for Democratic Renewal, a Single-Term Transition Charter, a National Reform Programme, a Framework for Opposition Unity and a Roadmap to a Common Presidential Candidate.
Lukman clarified that the summit was not seeking the dissolution or merger of political parties, nor was it asking any presidential candidate to withdraw from the race.
He explained that the immediate objective was to create a framework for cooperation before discussions on leadership and candidate selection.
“We are not asking any party to dissolve. We are not asking any party to disappear into another party. We are not asking any candidate to stand down this morning,” he said.
He added that the priority was to “build the table before negotiating the seats.”
Lukman urged opposition leaders to approach the process with openness, sacrifice and a willingness to compromise, warning that hidden interests and premature demands could undermine the effort.
He said the G100 was not supporting any particular candidate or political party but was focused on strengthening democratic competition by ensuring Nigerians have a credible alternative government.
According to him, citizens facing economic hardship, insecurity and governance challenges deserve a genuine political choice capable of delivering effective leadership.
The summit marks one of the major attempts by opposition actors to establish a coordinated strategy ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
