Six opposition political parties have agreed to pursue a coalition aimed at defeating President Bola Tinubu and the APC in the 2027 presidential election.
The agreement was reached at a G-100 summit in Abuja involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde were absent from the summit.
The coalition proposed a Government of National Competence based on a single four-year term.
Speaking at the summit, G-100 coordinator Salihu Lukman said the proposed arrangement would be backed by an enforceable transition charter.
He said the opposition must avoid the division that cost it victory in the 2023 presidential election, when votes were split among several candidates.
The parties also agreed to establish committees on leadership, publicity and communication, and legal matters.
Five working groups will develop proposals on democratic reforms, the single-term transition plan, opposition unity and the selection of a common presidential candidate.
The parties stressed that the process would not require any member party to dissolve or any presidential candidate to withdraw at this stage.
PRP presidential candidate Donald Duke said he was willing to drop his ambition and support any candidate agreed upon by the coalition.
The parties adopted a communiqué committing them to further negotiations ahead of a second summit.
Meanwhile, Atiku Abubakar denied deliberately boycotting the meeting, with his aide, Phrank Shaibu, saying the former vice president’s absence was unavoidable.
Shaibu said Atiku remained committed to building a united opposition ahead of the 2027 election.
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