Opposition political parties and groups are expected to converge on Abuja on Monday for a summit focused on building cooperation and developing a common strategy for the 2027 presidential election.
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The meeting, organised by the G-100 political pressure group, is expected to examine ways opposition parties can work together to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the next general election.
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The summit comes amid ongoing disagreements within opposition circles over the possibility of forming a broad alliance and selecting a single presidential candidate to face Tinubu.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) have confirmed that they will attend the meeting, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the invitation and distanced itself from any opposition alliance being discussed outside its structures.
The G-100, led by former Director-General of the Progressives Governors Forum, Salihu Lukman, has been advocating greater cooperation among opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections.
The group believes that an opposition divided among several presidential candidates could find it difficult to defeat an incumbent party with established political structures and access to substantial campaign resources.
Ahead of the summit, the G-100 called on opposition parties to put aside their differences and consider areas where they could cooperate without abandoning their individual identities or political ambitions.
The group said political parties could retain their separate structures while developing common positions and strategies on issues where their interests align.
It also pointed to previous elections in Nigeria and other countries where divisions among opposition parties have helped incumbent governments retain power despite public dissatisfaction.
The G-100 therefore wants the opposition to move beyond general calls for unity and develop practical arrangements for cooperation, including mechanisms for dialogue and coordination.
The Social Democratic Party has welcomed the initiative and confirmed that its presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, alongside members of the party’s national leadership, will attend the summit at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, said the SDP was prepared to work with political groups and individuals seeking a different direction for the country.
He said the summit would allow opposition parties to discuss possible areas of cooperation ahead of the elections.
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The Peoples Redemption Party has also confirmed its participation, with its National Publicity Secretary, Bello Ishaq, saying the party would attend the gathering.
The Peoples Democratic Party, however, has rejected the initiative, saying it was neither aware of the proposed opposition summit nor involved in any alliance arrangement with other political parties.
The position of the PDP was communicated by the spokesman of its National Caretaker Committee, Jungudo Mohammed, who said any opposition discussions that excluded the party could not lead to an alliance involving it.
The G-100 has maintained that the meeting is not designed to compel any participating party to surrender its identity, structure or presidential ambition.
Instead, the group wants the summit to create an avenue for opposition parties to discuss their differences and determine areas where they can work together.
The group also warned opposition politicians against turning the gathering into another struggle for influence or positions.
It said the immediate focus should be on developing a credible alternative for Nigerians rather than determining which opposition party or politician would dominate the proposed alliance.
The push for greater cooperation comes as political activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election intensify, with President Tinubu expected to seek another term in office.
The possibility of presenting a single opposition candidate remains one of the biggest issues facing the various opposition groups.
While some political actors believe a common candidate would improve their chances against the ruling APC, others have shown little willingness to abandon their individual presidential ambitions.
Differences over party structures, leadership, candidate selection and the terms of any proposed alliance have continued to complicate efforts to establish a unified opposition platform.
The G-100’s summit is therefore expected to test whether the various opposition parties can move from calls for unity to practical cooperation ahead of the 2027 election.
The group has urged participating leaders to approach the discussions with an open mind and focus on the broader interests of the country.
The positions of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) were not available at the time of filing the report.
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