Seyi Makinde, Governor of Oyo State, has stated that the National Summit of Opposition Political Party Leaders held in Ibadan on Saturday was not aimed at any individual. The event took place at the newly-constructed Banquet Hall of the Oyo State Government House. Makinde emphasized that the gathering was about reinforcing Nigeria's democratic system ahead of the 2027 general elections. He rejected claims that the meeting was a coordinated effort against a specific political figure. "It is not a gang-up against one man, and it is not about individual ambitions to be president," Makinde said. "It is about the collective ambition of the Nigerian people to have a democracy properly defined."
He stressed that the survival of a competitive and open political system depends on a strong opposition. "Democracy without opposition is not democracy, it is a slow drift toward a one-party State and Nigeria must not make that drift," Makinde added. He warned that weakening opposition voices, whether by design or neglect, would have serious consequences. The summit brought together leaders from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). Attendees included Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Rauf Aregbesola, Rotimi Amaechi, Pat Utomi, and Jerry Gana.
A post-summit communiqué called for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the deadline for party primaries until July 2026. The parties also urged the National Assembly to review the Electoral Act, 2026 (as amended), to remove provisions seen as undermining electoral integrity. Participants agreed to build a united front and field a single presidential candidate to challenge President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027. The meeting is part of ongoing political consultations shaping the country's multi-party landscape.
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