The Opposition’s Unified Front and the APC’s Response
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has shown no signs of concern over the decision by opposition leaders to field a single presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections. This move aims to challenge the ruling party and create a unified front against its dominance.
Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, Ajibola Basiru, the National Secretary of the APC, acknowledged that opposition parties are free to explore coalition talks. However, he pointed out that fundamental disagreements remain, particularly regarding which party would produce the joint candidate. Despite these challenges, opposition leaders have taken significant steps toward unity.
On Saturday, key opposition figures gathered in Ibadan, Oyo State, for the National Summit of Opposition Political Leaders. They agreed to present one presidential candidate for the 2027 election. This agreement was part of nine resolutions outlined in a communique titled the “Ibadan Declaration.” The document emphasized the need to “rescue the nation and suffering masses” and warned against what it described as attempts by the APC to entrench a one-party state.
The summit featured prominent opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi; former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; and former governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed. Other attendees included Rabiu Kwankwaso from the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Babangida Aliyu, Rauf Aregbesola, Liyel Imoke, and Prof. Pat Utomi.
Also present were former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal; co-convener of the summit, Professor Jerry Gana; former APC Chairman, Chief John Oyegun; former Sokoto State governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal; former minister Bolaji Abdullahi; and former Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, among others.
The opposition leaders, mainly from a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), stressed the need to set aside differences and build a unified platform to challenge the APC in 2027.
Reading the communique on behalf of the opposition parties, Taminu Turaki, the factional National Chairman of the PDP, reaffirmed their commitment to participate fully in the 2027 elections despite what they termed sustained political pressure and “onslaught” from the ruling party aimed at limiting opposition space.
On electoral matters, the summit expressed a lack of confidence in the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), calling on the National Assembly to review provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, which they said could undermine the credibility of elections. They further demanded an extension of the timeline for party primaries, arguing that the current guidelines issued by the electoral body posed challenges for opposition parties.
The communiqué also called for the release of politicians allegedly facing harassment or detention on bailable conditions, insisting that all Nigerians must be allowed to participate freely in the democratic process.
While commending Nigerians for their resilience, the opposition leaders said the Ibadan meeting marked the beginning of sustained engagements and coalition-building efforts leading up to the 2027 elections.
Some of the resolutions read:
- That we shall resist all attempts by the APC to foist a one-party state on Nigeria.
- That despite the onslaught and afflictions of the ruling party, the APC, to ensure that President Bola Tinubu emerges as the sole presidential candidate in 2027, we shall field candidates and partake in the 2027 election and other elections.
- That we shall work towards fielding one presidential candidate for the 2027 election, which shall be agreed and supported by all participating opposition parties to rescue our nation and our suffering masses.
- That INEC chairman, Prof. Josh Amupitan, having shown bias and open partisanship in favour of the ruling APC, should not conduct the 2027 general elections, as Nigerians have lost hope and confidence in him and his capacity to deliver a free, fair, transparent and credible election.
- That the National Assembly should immediately review the Electoral Act 2026 to remove all sections and clauses that threaten the sanctity and integrity of the elections and run counter to constitutional provisions.
- That all living politicians that are being detained or harassed on bailable conditions be released immediately and be allowed to exercise their fundamental right of participation and inclusivity as Nigerians.
- That we consider the recent guidelines released by INEC as obstacles deliberately engineered against the opposition parties. We therefore demand that INEC extends the deadline for primaries till the end of July 2026.
Earlier in his welcome address, Governor Makinde warned that the growing concentration of political power in one party, coupled with persistent crises within opposition parties, was narrowing the space for real competition. He noted that without a strong opposition, democracy risks becoming ineffective, urging political actors to rise above internal divisions.
The governor stressed that democracy depended not just on elections, but on the availability of viable alternatives, cautioning that the erosion of opposition capacity could leave citizens without meaningful choices.
On his part, Turaki called for a joint opposition framework to “free Nigeria from the claws of the APC.” Turaki insisted that opposition parties must agree to work together to defeat the APC in 2027. According to him, such a platform would serve as a rallying point for parties committed to challenging the APC and rebuilding trust among voters.
He urged opposition leaders to engage more directly with citizens, listen to their concerns, and align their strategies with public expectations, stressing that unity must be anchored on fairness, justice, and transparency.
The political parties said to have participated in the summit included the PDP, ADC, Labour Party, NNPP, Peoples Redemption Party, Nigeria Democratic Congress, Action Peoples Party, Accord Party, the Allied Peoples Movement, the Action Alliance, the Democratic Leadership Alliance, Youth Party, the Action Democratic Party, and the Zenith Labour Party.
But the APC dismissed the opposition’s decision, describing the initiative as unrealistic and politically disjointed. The party’s National Secretary, Basiru, argued that the opposition’s internal struggles made the idea of a unified presidential ticket impractical, noting that the ambitions of key political figures would ultimately undermine any consensus arrangement.
Reacting to Makinde’s warning of ‘Operation wetie,’ a violent political crisis in Western Nigeria between 1962 and 1965, Basiru described the governor’s statement as “irresponsible.” He argued that the statement showed political frustration and a lack of understanding of history.
