Opposition political leaders have intensified efforts to produce a single presidential candidate to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 election.
As part of the ongoing consultations, leaders of some opposition parties met with former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in Abuja on Tuesday night.
Some participants confirmed the meeting to Daily Trust.
A source close to the meeting said the leaders discussed what would be required to produce and sustain a single presidential candidacy, adding that consultations were still ongoing.
The source said the party leaders would also meet other presidential candidates as part of efforts to build consensus.
Among the parties represented at the meeting were the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The source said the process was ongoing but indicated that the parties involved were considering backing a single presidential candidate.
Recently, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, said the issue of a single opposition presidential candidate would be handled by the political parties.
PRP confirms meeting
Confirming the meeting, the PRP, in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammed Ishaq, said Atiku welcomed the opposition coalition and encouraged its leaders to sustain the movement ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party said the meeting was part of ongoing consultations among opposition parties and political leaders aimed at strengthening cooperation ahead of the elections.
According to the statement, Atiku expressed support for the efforts and encouraged the leaders to maintain the momentum.
The PRP described the engagement as “a source of tremendous inspiration” to the delegation, adding that further meetings with other party leaders and presidential candidates were being planned.
The party said opposition leaders recognised the need to broaden and strengthen the coalition as political consultations intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.
The development came as opposition groups continued discussions over possible cooperation, with Atiku separately endorsing the “Tinubu Must Go” movement after receiving one of its conveners, Abba Hikima, on Monday.
Atiku said the movement reflected what he described as a growing national demand for political change and invited Nigerians who shared its objectives to join.
PRP condemns arrest of five youths
Meanwhile, the PRP condemned the reported arrest and arraignment of five youths in Borno State over T-shirts bearing the inscription, “Tinubu Must Go.”
The five men were charged before a Chief Magistrate Court in Maiduguri with offences including criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery. They pleaded not guilty.
The PRP said the opposition coalition would take up the matter, describing the reported arrests as unacceptable.
“The reported arrest in Borno State of young people wearing T-shirts bearing political messages is unequivocally condemned,” the statement said.
The party added that citizens should not be treated as hostages or denied their rights because of political expression.
The case has also attracted criticism from Amnesty International, which called for the release of the men and argued that peaceful political expression should be protected.
G-100 pushing for consensus
The current consultations followed an initiative by the G-100, a group of politicians seeking to bring opposition parties and presidential candidates together to present a common front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
The group has been seeking cooperation among the ADC, PDP, NDC, PRP, SDP and APM.
The initiative is expected to bring together presidential candidates, running mates and national chairmen of the parties to discuss the possibility of producing a consensus candidate.
Among those whose candidacies have featured in the discussions are Atiku Abubakar of the ADC, Peter Obi of the NDC, Seyi Makinde of the APM, Donald Duke of the PRP, Adebayo Adewole Ebenezer of the SDP and Senator Sandy Onor of the PDP.
The G-100, led by former Director-General of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Salihu Lukman, has argued that opposition parties need to work together to build a viable alternative to the ruling party.
The initiative is also a revival of an earlier attempt by opposition parties to forge a common front at a summit in Ibadan last November, which did not result in a lasting alliance.
While some opposition leaders have expressed willingness to explore the arrangement, questions remain over whether individual presidential candidates and their supporters would agree to step aside in favour of a consensus candidate.
Several of the parties involved have confirmed awareness of the proposed consultations and expressed support for efforts to bring opposition parties together.
Speaking on Trust TV, Lukman said opposition leaders needed to work together to give Nigerians confidence that there was an alternative.
He said, “Once they don’t come together, I don’t think Nigerians will bother themselves. And this is the message we have passed, and we are still passing to the leaders of the opposition.”
