Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi are expected at an Abuja summit on Monday, August 31, as six opposition parties begin talks on cooperation ahead of the 2027 general election.
The Summit of Nigeria’s Opposition Political Parties, convened by the G100, will hold at the Yar’Adua Centre in the Federal Capital Territory.
The meeting will bring together leaders of six opposition parties for formal talks on how they can work together and coordinate activities before the 2027 elections.
The summit carries the theme, “A Framework for Opposition Cooperation and Coordination.” It will focus on creating a structure for the parties to negotiate their interests and possible alliance.
The G100 said the summit will not immediately decide who will become the opposition coalition’s presidential candidate. The group said its first task is to create a transparent process for resolving key issues around the proposed alliance.
G100 Convener Salihu Moh. Lukman said the parties must first agree on the principles and goals of their cooperation before discussing who should lead a joint ticket.
“The first question before party leaders is not who leads the ticket. It is what we are, together, prepared to do for this country,” the statement said.
The summit follows weeks of talks between the G100 and six opposition parties: the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The talks followed the G100’s publication of its Doctrine of a Necessary Democratic Opposition on August 2, 2026.
Lukman said the consultations identified areas for cooperation while recognising each party’s history, political interests and organisational structure.
“At the centre of the consultations was a common recognition of the need for a credible, organised and competitive democratic opposition, and a willingness to engage the difficult questions that meaningful cooperation ahead of 2027 will require,” he stated.
The parties are expected to send delegates from their national leadership, National Working Committees and other key groups.
Presidential candidates and running mates of the participating parties are also expected to attend through representatives.
Members and signatories of the G100 and members of the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives are also expected.
The summit will consider a proposal to create five specialised Working Groups for different areas of opposition cooperation.
If the parties approve the plan, the groups will work for four weeks and prepare key documents and agreements needed to create a formal alliance structure.
The G100 said the proposal would move coalition talks beyond political statements and provide an institutional framework for negotiating differences.
“Among the proposals before the Summit will be the establishment of structures that will facilitate negotiations and cooperation and five specialised Working Groups,” the statement said.
“Subject to the decisions of the participating parties, these bodies will be mandated to develop, within four weeks, the principal documents and agreements required to give institutional form to opposition cooperation.”
The group said it would not impose decisions on the parties.
“The decisions arising from this process will remain the responsibility of the parties themselves,” it added.
The summit represents the latest G100 effort to unite major opposition groups before the 2027 presidential election.
The group has met members of the Minority Caucus in the 10th House of Representatives to build support for a common platform against President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Lukman, who led the delegation to the lawmakers, warned that opposition parties could repeat the 2023 experience if they contest separately.
He argued that divisions could help the ruling party retain power in 2027.
“As opposition parties, we seem to be fragmented. And if we continue the way we are going, we are almost going to replay 2023 scenario. And it’s almost like a case of handing over victory to the ruling party. And then we’ll go back to square one,” Lukman said.
The G100 said it does not support a particular politician or party. Instead, it wants opposition leaders to negotiate an arrangement that can produce a strong challenger to the APC.
Lukman said Nigeria’s political and economic situation made opposition cooperation necessary.
“We feel given the situation the country is facing today, the country cannot afford another four years of APC government,” he said.
“And that whatever it will take to get our leaders back together, to do the needful, and begin to work together to ensure victory in the 2027 election. We need to do it.”
External sources
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
National Assembly of Nigeria
State House of Nigeria
