The G-100 group has scheduled an opposition summit for August 18 in Abuja to push for a joint presidential candidate against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections, but conflicting signals from major opposition figures and parties have cast doubt on the prospects of a united front. The group, led by former APC chieftain Salisu Lukman, argues that a fragmented opposition cannot realistically defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
G-100 Summit and Invitations
As reported by The Punch on Thursday, August 13, the G-100 has urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi, alongside their running mates Rotimi Amaechi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, to set aside individual ambitions and agree on a common candidate. The group has convened a summit in Abuja on August 18 to advance the proposal.
The summit is shaping up as an early test of whether the opposition can move beyond rhetoric and begin negotiating in earnest, with the divergent positions already on the table suggesting that process will be far from smooth.
Atiku and Obi Camps Respond
Atiku's Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, welcomed the G-100's efforts in general terms but declined to confirm whether the former vice president would attend the August 18 summit. "His attendance at the August 18 summit will, however, be communicated once his schedule and participation are finalised," Shaibu said.
On the question of stepping down in favour of a single candidate, Shaibu was non-committal, noting only that Atiku was in ongoing consultation "with political leaders and stakeholders across the opposition" and that "at the appropriate time, the outcome of these consultations will be made public."
The Obidient Movement, which backs Obi's presidential bid, confirmed that an invitation had been extended to him but said the choice to attend was his alone. National Coordinator Tanko Yunusa told reporters: "An invitation has been sent to him. We will see whether he will attend or not. It is left for him to decide on whether to go to such a meeting." Yunusa did add that he considered opposition unity "very good," but could not confirm whether Atiku had separately reached out to Obi.
Labour Party and DLA Resist Merger Calls
The Labour Party took a firmer stance, rejecting the idea of building a new coalition vehicle entirely. National Publicity Secretary Ken Asogwa argued that the party's ties to the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress gave it an organisational reach extending from the national level down to individual polling units that rivals could not replicate.
"The task before the opposition is not to reinvent the wheel but to unite behind the most viable platform. That platform is the Labour Party," Asogwa said, calling on all political movements to fold their structures into the LP rather than form another body.
The Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) was similarly cautious, with Deputy National Publicity Secretary Judith Aguenu confirming that the party was "not in talks with the G-100 or any other political party or group regarding the adoption or nomination of a single presidential candidate" at this stage.
Coalition of United Political Parties Backs Consensus
The Coalition of United Political Parties offered the most enthusiastic response, with spokesman Agu Bryan pledging support for a consensus candidate should Obi, Atiku and others reach "a mutually acceptable arrangement in the overriding national interest."
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that ChatGPT predicted that the ruling APC would likely win Nigeria's 2027 presidential election, using the Four Horsemen framework. It cited the current opposition coalition but said the ruling APC has the edge due to possible low voter turnout and the Tinubu administration's efforts to stabilise the economy. The political climate reached a point where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had to issue a warning that campaigning at that time was illegal, echoing the standpoint of popular human rights lawyer Femi Falana.
