Atiku, Obi, Duke, Others Near Deal as Opposition Targets 2027 Consensus Candidate

Opposition political parties in Nigeria have intensified efforts to agree on a consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, with a final decision expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

The parties, operating under the aegis of G100, met in Abuja on Wednesday to inaugurate legal and publicity committees as part of efforts to advance the consensus arrangement.

The meeting was attended by chairmen and representatives of six political parties, who said consultations were ongoing to determine a common candidate capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Among the prominent politicians reportedly in contention for the opposition ticket are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), and former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP).

The inauguration of the committees is expected to strengthen the coordination of the process, with the legal committee handling relevant legal considerations and the publicity committee managing communication surrounding the initiative.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Prof. Sadiq Abubakar Gombe, urged members of the two committees to understand their mandates and terms of reference to ensure that their activities remained within clearly defined limits.

Gombe said the committees must pay close attention to the boundaries of their authority and the standards against which their performance would be assessed.

The SDP chairman, who is also a member of the G100 opposition coalition, emphasised the importance of clarity and adherence to the responsibilities assigned to the committees as the parties work towards reaching an agreement.

The National Chairman of the PRP, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, also addressed the gathering.

The opposition parties said the outcome of the consensus process would be made public in the coming weeks, as consultations continue among stakeholders.

The emerging arrangement represents an effort by opposition parties to build a common front ahead of the 2027 elections, although the eventual choice of candidate and the terms of agreement among the contenders remain to be formally announced.