The Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) has announced that Prof. Pat Utomi will lead a Political Commission in private talks with eight opposition presidential candidates as part of efforts to settle on a single challenger to President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to a report by The Punch on Thursday, September 17, the MCE's Media Coordinator, James Ezema, disclosed in a statement that the Utomi-led commission is expected to conclude meetings with the candidates and their party leaders within two weeks. The initiative comes as opposition groups seek to avoid a repeat of past failures to form a united front.
Eight Candidates Shortlisted for Closed-Door Meetings
The shortlisted candidates include Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party, Seyi Makinde of the Allied People's Movement, Donald Duke of the People's Redemption Party, Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party, Peter Agada of the Young Progressives Party, and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress.
MCE said keeping the sessions private was essential to shield the process from what it described as "political mercenaries and jobbers" determined to derail negotiations. The group noted that past opposition efforts had repeatedly collapsed not over the principle of a united front but over the moment of choosing a candidate to lead it.
"Nigeria cannot afford another opposition arrangement in which political actors agree on the need for a united front but disagree when it becomes necessary to determine the arrowhead and rallying point of that electoral alliance," the statement read.
Candidate Criteria and Governance Agenda
The MCE said candidates would be assessed against criteria covering national acceptability, competence, integrity, leadership profile, political electability, policy orientation, commitment to democratic institutions, and the capacity to bring together diverse interests. Their grasp of Nigerian political and constitutional questions would also be evaluated.
Beyond producing a consensus candidate, the MCE said the process was designed to yield a shared governance agenda covering insecurity, economic hardship, unemployment, poverty, institutional decay, electoral integrity, constitutional reform, education, healthcare, energy, and the high cost of governance.
"The Nigerian people deserve more than a coalition of political personalities. They deserve a coalition of ideas, competence, values and a coherent ideological programme for national salvation," the group said. Every candidate taking part would be required to commit in writing to accepting the outcome and backing whoever emerged as the coalition's presidential candidate.
Commission Members and Next Steps
Utomi will be joined in the commission by Maryam Ciroma, Modupe Adelaja, Solomon Dalung, Uche Onyeagocha, Olusegun Mayegun, Sam Amadi, Mike Iginni, Obongawan Barbara Etim James, Olawale Okunniyi, and Adum Ter Alex, among others. The tactical session at which the commission's findings will be presented is scheduled to be held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The MCE initiative follows a separate push by the G100, a coalition of 100 Nigerians, which in August urged opposition figures to set aside personal ambitions and work towards a united electoral arrangement for the 2027 elections. The group has since held consultations with the ADC, APM, NDC, PDP, PRP and SDP.
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that ChatGPT predicted the ruling APC would likely win Nigeria's 2027 presidential election, citing possible low voter turnout and the Tinubu administration's efforts to stabilise the economy as factors favouring the ruling party.
