Efforts by opposition politicians and political groups to present a common presidential candidate for the 2027 election have run into fresh challenges, with major contenders insisting on maintaining their ambitions.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde have continued to position themselves as presidential contenders, despite ongoing discussions aimed at producing a consensus candidate.
The development has raised doubts over whether the opposition can agree on a single candidate capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 presidential election.
The G-100, a coalition of opposition groups and political stakeholders working toward a united opposition platform, says consultations are still ongoing. A member of the group, Ambassador Umanu Elijah, expressed confidence that a consensus candidate would be selected by September 30.
According to Elijah, the coalition has been engaging presidential aspirants and other stakeholders behind the scenes as part of efforts to build a broad political alliance.
However, the camps of the major contenders have shown little indication that their candidates are prepared to withdraw from the race.
An ally of Atiku said the former Vice-President remained open to discussions but was determined to contest the 2027 election. He argued that Atiku had played a major role in the formation of the African Democratic Congress, which has become a platform for opposition coalition efforts.
Similarly, the Allied Peoples’ Movement said Makinde was in the race to win and had not withdrawn his candidacy. The party maintained that ongoing discussions did not mean its candidate would step aside.
Peter Obi’s party, the Nigeria Democratic Congress, also said it was willing to participate in talks over a consensus candidate while maintaining that Obi remained a strong contender for the presidency.
Beyond the three major contenders, some opposition parties have rejected the idea of withdrawing their candidates. African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore argued that simply uniting behind one candidate without a shared ideology and clear development programme would not solve Nigeria’s problems.
The varying positions suggest that while opposition parties are interested in cooperation ahead of 2027, agreeing on who should lead a single ticket remains one of their biggest challenges.
With the G-100 targeting September 30 for an agreement, attention is now turning to whether the competing presidential ambitions can be reconciled before the election campaign gathers further momentum.
