2027: Utomi Leads Talks With Atiku, Obi on Single Candidate

Professor Pat Utomi is leading a fresh round of consultations with opposition presidential candidates and party leaders as political groups explore presenting a single candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

The Movement for Credible Elections said the Utomi-led Political Commission would hold closed-door meetings with shortlisted candidates within two weeks. The meetings are intended to gather positions before a tactical session scheduled to take place in Ibadan.

Among those listed for engagement are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress. Other names include Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party, Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement, Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party, Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party and Peter Agada of the Young Progressives Party.

The commission said the private discussions were designed to reduce interference while allowing candidates to negotiate directly on the proposed opposition arrangement.

According to the group, previous attempts at opposition cooperation have faced difficulties when political actors had to decide who would lead a proposed alliance.

The initiative follows consultations by the G100, which has also advocated cooperation among opposition parties ahead of 2027. The group has engaged parties including the ADC, APM, NDC, PDP, PRP and SDP.

The proposed process is expected to examine leadership, policy direction, democratic institutions and constitutional questions.

The commission also wants discussions to address insecurity, unemployment, poverty, education, healthcare, energy and electoral reforms.

However, participation is not universal. African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has said neither he nor his party is part of the talks and that the AAC will not join the coalition initiative.

The development comes as opposition parties continue separate discussions over possible cooperation ahead of the 2027 election. Atiku and Obi were previously absent from a G100 opposition summit in Abuja.

The latest consultations therefore represent another attempt to establish a framework for managing competing political interests.

The commission is expected to present the outcome of its engagements at the Ibadan tactical session. Whether the discussions produce a common presidential candidate will depend on the positions of participating candidates and parties.

The discussions are expected to continue as the parties consider possible areas of agreement before any final arrangement is announced publicly.