Ibadan Summit: Opposition Parties to Field One Presidential Candidate in 2027 Polls

Opposition leaders in Nigeria met in Ibadan on Saturday and agreed on a broad strategy aimed at challenging the dominance of the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general elections. A communiqué issued after the meeting indicated that prominent figures including Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Rotimi Amaechi, Peter Obi and Rauf Aregbesola participated in discussions focused on forming a united front. The opposition vowed to resist what they described as attempts to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, insisting that multi-party democracy must be preserved. They also announced plans to present a single presidential candidate for the 2027 elections through consensus among participating opposition parties. Concerns were raised about the independence of the electoral commission, with calls for the resignation of the INEC chairman over alleged bias and for reforms to the electoral law. Speakers at the summit urged lawmakers to revise electoral guidelines and extend deadlines for party primaries, arguing that current rules disadvantage opposition groups. Governor Seyi Makinde warned that democracy in Nigeria was gradually weakening due to shrinking political competition and growing dominance of the ruling party. He stressed that democracy loses meaning when opposition parties cannot effectively present alternatives to citizens. Political economist Pat Utomi highlighted worsening economic hardship, citing high fuel costs and rising inflation that he said contrast sharply with low average incomes across the country. He argued that Nigeria’s challenges are not only economic but also rooted in leadership failure and lack of ethical governance. The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, David Mark, described the summit as a national call to duty aimed at rescuing the country from deepening insecurity and political tension. He cited rising insecurity, frequent abductions and high death tolls as signs of a worsening national crisis requiring urgent collective action. Participants collectively emphasized that opposition unity is essential to safeguard democratic choice and prevent further erosion of political competition in the country. They also argued that reforms to electoral processes, stronger institutional independence, and fairer rules for party participation are necessary to restore public confidence ahead of the 2027 polls despite growing concerns over governance and electoral credibility raised during the Ibadan summit discussions by stakeholders.