Fresh Coalition Imminent as Opposition Leaders Meet Atiku in Abuja

A fresh round of consultations among opposition politicians ahead of the 2027 presidential election has intensified following a closed-door meeting between African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and coalition leaders in Abuja.

The meeting took place at Atiku’s Abuja residence on Tuesday night.

It was attended by the National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, as well as other figures involved in efforts to bring opposition parties and political leaders together.

Members of Atiku’s campaign council were also said to have attended the meeting, which came amid growing efforts to develop a broader opposition alliance ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The PRP National Publicity Secretary, Muhammed Ishaq, confirmed the meeting in a statement issued on Wednesday, although he did not disclose all the details of the discussions.

Multiple sources were also reported to have confirmed that the delegation included chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Allied Peoples Movement.

Ishaq said the engagement formed part of wider consultations aimed at strengthening cooperation among opposition parties and political figures ahead of the 2027 elections.

He described the meeting as a source of “tremendous inspiration” to those involved and said consultations would continue with other opposition party leaders and presidential candidates.

“Leaders of coalition parties, as well as others interested in joining, recognise the need to broaden and strengthen the coalition’s capacity to defeat the APC in 2027 and give Nigeria a new lease on life,” Ishaq said.

The latest meeting comes as several opposition groups continue to explore ways of reducing the number of presidential candidates who could emerge from the opposition camp in 2027.

One of the initiatives involved in the process is the Movement for Credible Elections, which has commenced consultations with opposition presidential candidates and leaders of their political parties.

The consultations are being coordinated by Professor Pat Utomi, who chairs the MCE Political Commission. The commission is seeking to facilitate discussions that could eventually lead to a common opposition presidential candidate.

The MCE has identified several opposition figures for consultations, including Atiku, Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party, Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement, Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party, Sandy Onor of the PDP, Peter Agada of the Young Progressive Party and African Action Congress candidate Omoyele Sowore.

The organisation said the meetings would be held behind closed doors because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations.

According to the MCE, the closed-door engagements are intended to give political parties and presidential aspirants the opportunity to discuss difficult issues without external pressure or interference.

“The Prof Pat Utomi-led Political Commission initiated by Movement for Credible Elections, MCE, to actualise Opposition Coalition for a Single Presidential Candidate in the 2027 Elections has decided to meet shortlisted opposition presidential candidates and their party leaders behind closed doors ahead of its tactical session scheduled to hold in Ibadan in a fortnight,” the organisation said.

The MCE said the process would not simply involve asking presidential candidates to withdraw from the race. It said any eventual agreement would have to be based on rules accepted by the participating parties and aspirants.

It identified credibility, transparency, fairness, due process and a level playing field as some of the principles expected to guide the process.

The organisation also said the parties and candidates would participate in determining how an eventual opposition candidate would be selected and endorsed.

The MCE said its consultations would examine issues including national acceptability, competence, integrity, leadership profile, political electability, policy orientation, commitment to democratic institutions and the ability to unite Nigerians across different interests.

It also said the proposed alliance should be based on a common programme rather than being driven solely by political personalities.

“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 organisation stated.

The group said issues such as insecurity, unemployment, poverty, economic hardship, institutional decay, electoral reforms, constitutional reform, education, healthcare, energy and the cost of governance would form part of the discussions around a common agenda.

The MCE stressed that it was not seeking to impose a presidential candidate on the opposition parties but was instead attempting to facilitate negotiations among the various political actors.

The latest meeting in Abuja therefore adds to a series of opposition consultations taking place ahead of the 2027 election. Another initiative, known as G100, has also been engaging opposition parties and political leaders on the possibility of cooperation.

G100 released what it called the “Doctrine of a Necessary Democratic Opposition” and urged opposition parties to consider working together around a single presidential candidate, a common programme and a coordinated strategy.

The group subsequently engaged parties including the ADC, APM, NDC, PDP, PRP and SDP in its consultations.

The various initiatives are taking place as opposition politicians face the question of whether to contest the 2027 presidential election separately or seek a common platform.