Opposition political parties and stakeholders under the G-100 platform are set to hold a summit in Abuja on August 18, 2026, as efforts intensify to build a united front ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The summit follows consultations between G-100 representatives and leaders of six opposition parties: the African Democratic Congress, Allied Peoples Movement, National Democratic Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Peoples Redemption Party and Social Democratic Party.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by Salihu Lukman on behalf of the G-100, the group said the consultations had laid the groundwork for discussions on how the opposition could work together to offer Nigerians a credible alternative in 2027.
The statement, titled, “G100: Consultations with opposition leaders set stage for unity summit,” said representatives of the group met with national chairmen, presidential candidates and running mates of the opposition parties.
According to the group, the meetings were held privately to allow the political leaders to discuss sensitive issues openly without pressure from public scrutiny.
The consultations, it said, produced broad agreement on the need for opposition parties to overcome their differences and develop a coordinated political strategy ahead of the elections.
“There has been a clear recognition of the need for Nigeria’s opposition parties to work more closely together ahead of the 2027 general elections,” the statement said.
The G-100 acknowledged that achieving such cooperation would require concessions from the parties and their leaders.
It said those consulted recognised that an effective opposition would depend on sacrifice, compromise and a willingness to put national interests ahead of individual and partisan ambitions.
The August 18 summit is expected to begin discussions on how the parties can work together, including the possibility of presenting a single candidate in the 2027 presidential election.
The group said it would not dictate the outcome of the discussions but would facilitate dialogue and help build trust among the participating political interests.
“The G-100 does not presume to dictate the outcome of these conversations,” the statement said, adding that its role was to facilitate dialogue and create conditions for the parties to consider cooperation, accommodation and collective action.
The summit is also expected to draw on the principles of the Ibadan Declaration, particularly its call for the opposition to develop a credible pathway towards presenting a sole candidate for the 2027 election.
The G-100 said it was encouraged by the areas of agreement identified during the consultations but stressed that political goodwill must be translated into a practical framework.
It said preparations for the summit were already underway with representatives of the participating parties.
The group also said the process would be inclusive and based on mutual respect, arguing that lasting political cooperation could not be imposed on the parties.
The initiative comes amid growing efforts by opposition politicians to form a broader coalition ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
With several parties and prominent politicians positioning themselves for the election, negotiations over alliances, a possible joint presidential candidate and other power-sharing arrangements are increasingly shaping opposition politics.
The G-100 said the initiative was driven by concerns that a divided opposition could find it difficult to mount an effective electoral challenge.
It maintained that Nigeria's democracy would benefit from having a credible opposition capable of competing effectively for voters' support.
The group said continued fragmentation among opposition parties would make it harder to achieve that objective.
It described the consultations conducted over the past week as the beginning of a potentially longer negotiation process and urged political leaders to approach the talks with patience, courage and a willingness to make sacrifices.
The August 18 summit will provide an early indication of whether the opposition parties can move beyond separate political interests and agree on a framework for greater cooperation ahead of the 2027 elections.
The development comes as political parties upload details of their presidential candidates and running mates to the Independent National Electoral Commission portal.
