Leaders of 44 opposition parties agreed on Saturday to back a single presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections during the Opposition Political Parties National Summit in Ibadan, Oyo State. The decision forms part of a broader push to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress, which the coalition accuses of attempting to establish a one-party state. "That we shall resist all machinations by the APC to foist a one-party State on Nigeria and fight for the survival of multi-party democracy in our country," the communiqué stated.
The coalition dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu would run unopposed in 2027, affirming their intent to field candidates. "Despite the onslaughts and manoeuvrings of the ruling party… to impose President Bola Tinubu as the sole Presidential candidate in 2027; we shall field candidates and contest the 2027 Presidential and other elections," the parties declared. They pledged to agree on one consensus candidate to "rescue our nation and her long suffering masses."
A vote of no confidence was passed against Prof. Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, over allegations of bias in favour of the APC. The opposition warned his continued leadership could "trigger a widespread crisis." They urged the National Assembly to amend the Electoral Act, 2026, and extend the deadline for party primaries to July 31, 2026, citing INEC's recent guidelines as restrictive.
The summit commended Oyo State Governor Engr. Seyi Makinde for hosting the event. The communique was signed by the chairmen of all participating parties, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Aminu Tambuwal and Rauf Aregbesola.
The opposition demands neutrality from INEC's chairman while selecting their own consensus candidate through internal negotiations that may also hinge on bias or backroom deals. They claim APC is engineering a one-party state, yet propose a near-identical model by backing only one candidate among themselves. If unity depends on rejecting another party's dominance, it sets a precedent not for democracy but for opposition mimicry. The plan hinges on cohesion among rivals whose past alliances have collapsed before elections.
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