Former Director-General of the Progressive Governors Forum, Salihu Lukman, says efforts are under way to bring major opposition figures, including Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, together ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.
Mr Lukman said a framework had been proposed to create a broader opposition alliance capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the polls.
“We are putting forward a structure and have submitted a proposal for them to consider,” he said in an interview with ARISE News. (Daily Post)
He argued that opposition parties and political leaders must look beyond individual ambitions and focus on building a credible alternative for Nigerians ahead of the election.
According to Mr Lukman, the primary objective should be to unite opposition forces rather than allow disagreements between prominent politicians to weaken their chances of defeating the governing party.
His comments come amid growing discussions over the possibility of a single opposition candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
The proposed alliance has been championed by the G-100, a political pressure group convened by Mr Lukman, which has been pushing for opposition parties to work together and, where possible, field a common presidential candidate.
However, the plan faces significant political challenges.
The camps of Mr Atiku and Mr Obi have previously expressed reservations about the proposal for a single opposition presidential candidate, raising questions about whether the major opposition figures can reach an agreement before the election. (Punch Newspapers)
Mr Lukman has repeatedly warned that divisions among opposition politicians could benefit President Tinubu and the APC, arguing that the experience of the 2023 election should not be repeated.
He has also stressed that the challenge facing the opposition is not simply about bringing politicians together, but developing a credible political structure and common agenda capable of winning the confidence of Nigerians.
The 2027 election is expected to be a major contest, with President Tinubu seeking another term while several opposition figures position themselves for the presidency.
For Mr Lukman and his allies, the coming months will therefore be crucial in determining whether the opposition can overcome competing ambitions and agree on a common strategy.
The proposed unity effort could ultimately determine whether Nigeria’s opposition enters the 2027 election as a fragmented collection of parties or as a coordinated political force capable of mounting a serious challenge to the APC.
