Opposition leaders Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Donald Duke are among the politicians being considered for a possible consensus presidential ticket to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.
The G100 coalition says negotiations among opposition parties and presidential hopefuls are making significant progress as they work towards presenting a common candidate against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Professor Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during the inauguration of the coalition’s legal and media committees.
Gombe said the coalition had engaged leaders of participating political parties and presidential hopefuls to secure their support for a united opposition platform.
“Our ambition is to present a candidate that can defeat APC and form the next government. And we’re making very good progress,” he said.
Atiku, Obi, Duke Among Opposition Hopefuls
The coalition named former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke among the figures being considered for the proposed alliance.
The G100 comprises the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), SDP, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
Representatives of some participating parties attended the Abuja meeting, where the coalition inaugurated committees to provide structure for the ongoing negotiations.
According to Gombe, the positive responses received from party leaders and presidential hopefuls have strengthened the coalition’s confidence that outstanding issues can be resolved before the 2027 election.
He described the inauguration as a move from preliminary discussions to a more organised process.
Legal Committee to Address Potential Disputes
The coalition’s legal committee will review negotiated agreements, identify possible legal risks and recommend safeguards to protect the alliance.
Its responsibilities also include examining INEC-related issues in light of relevant Supreme Court judgments and developing mechanisms for resolving disputes before any final agreement is adopted.
Gombe warned members against overlooking legal details that could undermine months of negotiations.
The media and publicity committee, meanwhile, will coordinate joint media engagements, official announcements and public communication among the participating parties.
It will also establish procedures for approving joint statements and maintaining consistent messaging.
Coalition Targets Tinubu Ahead of 2027
Gombe said the opposition alliance was responding to concerns over Nigeria’s economic and security challenges.
He cited insecurity, rising living costs, unemployment and declining purchasing power as major issues facing Nigerians.
The coalition hopes to build a common platform capable of challenging the APC in 2027, when Tinubu is expected to seek re-election.
However, the opposition parties have yet to announce how they will select their consensus candidate. It also remains uncertain whether all the presidential hopefuls will agree to support whoever emerges.
The newly inaugurated committees are expected to help establish the framework for cooperation as negotiations continue.
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