Uncertainty has trailed the proposal for a single opposition presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general election, with parties expressing different positions.
The debate followed a call by the Group of 100 Nigerians led by former APC chieftain Salisu Lukman for opposition candidates to close ranks and present a common candidate against President Bola Tinubu.
The G-100 asked former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress and others including Rotimi Amaechi and Rabiu Kwankwaso to put national interest above individual interest.
The group said a divided opposition would struggle to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress, so a united candidate is needed. Lukman announced an opposition summit in Abuja on August 18.
How Major Parties Responded To Unity Proposal
In an interview, Atiku’s aide Phrank Shaibu said, “His Excellency Atiku Abubakar welcomes every genuine initiative aimed at strengthening democratic opposition and providing Nigerians with a credible alternative to the Tinubu administration. His attendance at the August 18 summit will, however, be communicated once his schedule and participation are finalised.”
He added, “His Excellency has consistently maintained that the challenges confronting Nigeria require opposition parties, leaders and citizens of goodwill to put the national interest above individual or partisan considerations.”
Obidient Movement coordinator Tanko Yunusa said, “An invitation has been sent to him. We will see whether he will attend or not. It is left for him to decide.”
He added, “We agree that it is very good for everyone in the opposition to come together under one umbrella.”
Labour Party spokesman Ken Asogwa said LP appreciates need for collaboration but wants coalition built around LP structure because the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress are institutional members.
“The Labour Party is unique among all political parties because the NLC and the TUC are its institutional members,” he said. “By implication, every serving and retired civil servant across the country is naturally connected to the LP family.”
He said, “It is against this backdrop that the Labour Party respectfully calls on all individuals, groups and political movements seeking to build a formidable opposition coalition to collapse their structures into the Labour Party.”
Democratic Leadership Alliance Deputy Publicity Secretary Judith Aguenu said, “At this stage, the DLA is not in talks with the G-100 or any other political party or group regarding the adoption or nomination of a single presidential candidate.”
She said conversation must go beyond candidate to vision and platform.
CUPP Backs Summit But Wants Credible Process
CUPP spokesman Agu Bryan said, “The CUPP acknowledges and appreciates the initiative of the G-100 in convening an opposition summit aimed at fostering greater unity.”
“We believe that a united opposition, anchored on a credible candidacy and a coherent alternative policy platform, stands a stronger chance of providing Nigerians with a viable democratic alternative,” he said.
“Accordingly, CUPP is prepared to support and work for the success of a consensus opposition candidate, should the major opposition contenders, including Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar and others, arrive at a mutually acceptable arrangement in the overriding national interest,” he added.
He said unity must go with demand for credible elections.
“Opposition unity must go hand-in-hand with a sustained demand for free, fair, transparent and credible elections,” he said.
With many heavyweights in race, agreeing on who leads may be harder than agreeing on need to unite.
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