2027: SDP, PRP confirm attendance as opposition summit shifts

The Social Democratic Party and the Peoples Redemption Party have confirmed that they will participate in the opposition summit now scheduled for Monday, August 31, 2026, in Abuja.

The summit, convened by the G-100, was earlier fixed for August 18.

It is aimed at bringing major opposition political parties together to explore the possibility of presenting a common presidential candidate against President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 general elections.

The initiative is being led by a former chieftain of the APC, Salihu Lukman, who has consistently argued that the opposition would struggle to defeat the ruling party if its various presidential candidates enter the 2027 contest separately.

According to the G-100, the objective of the summit is not merely to bring opposition parties together for discussions but to begin the process of building a broad political alliance capable of challenging the APC at the presidential election.

Lukman said the postponement was necessary to allow for wider consultations with political parties and stakeholders across the opposition camp.

In assessing the political platforms that could form the nucleus of a possible alliance, the G-100 had identified six parties: the Peoples Democratic Party, African Democratic Congress, National Democratic Congress, Peoples Redemption Party, Allied Peoples Movement and Social Democratic Party.

The SDP has now confirmed that its presidential candidate, Adewale Adebayo, will attend the meeting.

Speaking with The PUNCH on Monday, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Rufus Aiyenigba, confirmed Adebayo’s participation.

“Yes, he will,” the SDP spokesperson said when asked if Adebayo would be in Abuja for the proposed summit.

The PRP also confirmed the participation of its presidential candidate, Donald Duke, alongside party officials.

The party’s spokesperson, Muhammed Ishaq, confirmed this in a telephone conversation with our correspondent, although he did not provide details on which members of the National Working Committee would attend.

“Yes, we are attending,” Ishaq said.

PDP, ADC doubtful

The position of the PDP on the summit remains unclear, amid the leadership crisis that has continued to affect the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Jungudo Mohammed, said he was out of the country and promised to contact our correspondent after making enquiries from party officials in Nigeria.

However, the factional chairman of the party and former Minister of Inter-Governmental Affairs, Tanimu Turaki (SAN), indicated that the PDP faction could participate.

The Turaki-led faction had earlier adopted former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

Asked whether Jonathan and other party executives would attend the Abuja summit, Turaki said, “Hopefully.”

The ADC, meanwhile, appeared uncertain about its participation, saying it was not aware of any invitation to the party or its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

The ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, told The PUNCH that he was unaware of an invitation to the party or Atiku.

On whether Atiku and other party leaders would attend, Abdullahi asked, “Have they been invited?”, adding, “I am not aware. I may need to check, or you can reach out to the organiser.”

Meanwhile, efforts to get the position of Lukman were not fruitful as he neither picked his calls nor responded to WhatsApp messages sent to his mobile phone.

Atiku’s spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, however, said the former Vice President remained receptive to efforts aimed at strengthening the opposition ahead of the 2027 election.

He said Atiku’s attendance would depend largely on his schedule, noting that the former Vice President’s possible participation in the summit would be made public.

“His Excellency Atiku Abubakar welcomes every genuine initiative aimed at strengthening democratic opposition and providing Nigerians with a credible alternative to the Tinubu administration.

“His attendance at the August 31 summit will, however, be communicated once his schedule and participation are finalised,” Shaibu said.

The uncertainty surrounding the participation of the PDP and ADC highlights the difficulties confronting efforts to forge a single opposition platform ahead of 2027. While several opposition leaders have spoken in favour of collaboration, differences over leadership, presidential candidacy, party structures and the terms of any proposed alliance remain significant hurdles.

The G-100 is expected to use the August 31 meeting to intensify discussions on those issues and determine whether the various opposition platforms can move beyond individual ambitions to establish a common political front before the 2027 presidential election.