In a major political realignment ahead of the 2027 elections, opposition parties in the country, on Saturday, agreed in principle to team up and field a single candidate to confront President Bola Tinubu, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election.
Rising from what the parties described as the Ibadan Declaration after exhaustive deliberations at a one-day summit hosted by the Oyo State governor, Seyi Mak-inde, leaders of opposition parties passed a vote of no confidence in the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, to conduct credible elections, accusing him of open biases towards the ruling APC.
They equally rejected recent electoral guidelines issued by INEC, describing them as deliberate obstacles targeted at weakening opposition parties.
Accordingly, they demanded an extension of the deadline for party primaries till the end of July 2026.
These were among the key highlights contained in their communiqué on the more than three-hour summit with the theme: That we may work Together for A united Opposition to Sustain Our Democracy.
The summit brought together all opposition leaders, political stakeholders, and civil society actors from across the country, amid growing debate over the health of Nigeria’s multiparty democracy and the need for institutional reforms to safeguard it.
They promised to explore all lawful and legitimate means to fight against the plot allegedly by the governing APC to turn the country into a one-party state. National chairmen of no fewer than 10 political parties, including the African democratic Congress (ADC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), the Labour Party (LP), Accord Party (AP) , National Democratic Congress (ADC) endorsed the communiqué at the event attended by other critical stakeholders in the country.
Eminent statesmen and politicians that took turns to speak at the event, held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, included former presidential aspirant, Professor Jerry Gana; ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; former president of the Senate, Senator David Mark; 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi; Senator Ben Obi; Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso; Chief Ralph Nwosu; former governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, Rauf Aregbesola and former Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi.
The list of the leaders that graced the occasion also included Dr Usman Bugaje, Dr Kashim Ibrahim Imam, renowned economist, Professor Pat Utomi; ex-Secretary to the Government of the Feder-ation, Yayale Ahmed; former Niger State governor, Dr Aliyu Babangida; Solomon Dalung; ex-House of Representatives’ member Nnenna Ukeje; Senator Ireti Kingibe; ex-FERMA chairman, Jide Adeniji; PDP National Chairman, Kabir Tanimu Turaki, SAN, Mr Mike Igini, former Osun State governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Chief Odigwe Oyegun; Babachir Lawal, among others.
According to the opposition parties, their resolve in principle to present a single presidential candidate for the 2027 elections is a decisive move to “rescue the nation” from what they termed the excesses of the ruling APC.
They said the idea to field one candidate for the elections would be “agreed and supported by all participating opposition parties.”
The parties framed the decision as part of a broader strategy to halt what they alleged was a creeping attempt by the
The parties reaffirmed their commitment to participate fully in the 2027 elections at all levels, including the presidential poll, dismissing any notion of withdrawal or boycott.
The opposition also took a strong position on electoral governance, demanding immediate reforms to the Electoral Act 2026, urging the National Assembly to expunge provisions they claimed could compromise the integrity of the electoral process.
In a more pointed criticism, the opposition called for the removal of INEC chairman on the grounds of partisanship and bias in favour of the ruling APC.
According to the communiqué, Nigerians have “lost confidence” in the INEC leadership, warning that his continued stay in office could “trigger a widespread crisis” and undermine the credibility of the 2027 elections.
On civil liberties, the summit condemned what it described as the harassment and detention of opposition figures on bailable offences, calling for their immediate release to ensure inclusive political participation.
The communiqué stressed that democracy could not thrive under conditions where opposition voices are suppressed or intimidated.
The opposition parties commended Nigerians for their resilience amid economic and political challenges, expressing confidence in popular support for what they termed a “national rescue mission.”