Cross section of dignitaries at the national opposition summit held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Olufemi Adediran, Ademola Adegbite and Gabriel Osoka
The All Progressives Congress says it is not bothered by opposition leaders’ plan to pick one presidential candidate for the 2027 election and try to unseat the ruling party.
Ajibola Basiru, the APC national secretary, told Sunday PUNCH that the opposition groups are free to hold coalition talks. Yet he added that they still have not settled basic differences, starting with which party would actually supply the candidate.
Opposition party leaders gathered in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Saturday for the National Summit of Opposition Political Leaders. They agreed to field a single presidential candidate.
That decision formed one of nine resolutions listed in a communiqué the leaders released at the close of the meeting. In the document, called the Ibadan Declaration, they said the step was needed to “rescue the nation and suffering masses.” They also warned against what they called the APC’s attempts to build a one-party state.
Key figures at the summit included former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi (the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate), former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, and Abdulfatah Ahmed, ex-governor of Kwara State.
Rabiu Kwankwaso, the 2023 candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, also attended, along with former Niger State governor Babangida Aliyu, ex-minister Rauf Aregbesola, former Cross River governor Liyel Imoke, and Prof. Pat Utomi.
Others present were Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation; summit co-convener Professor Jerry Gana; Chief John Oyegun, one-time APC chairman; Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, former Sokoto governor; ex-minister Bolaji Abdullahi; Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Osun governor; and several more.
Most of the leaders came from a breakaway faction of the Peoples Democratic Party and the African Democratic Congress. They called for an end to old rivalries so they could create a single platform strong enough to challenge the APC in 2027.
Taminu Turaki, the factional PDP national chairman, read the communiqué. He said the opposition remained committed to full participation in the 2027 polls despite what he described as constant pressure and “onslaught” from the ruling party aimed at shrinking the space for rivals.
On electoral issues, the summit voiced no confidence in the leadership of the Independen
