26th April 2026, NewsOrient, Politics News, Governance And Development, Law And Society.
Photo: Leaders of the Opposition in Nigeria Gathered in Ibadan. They said the decision to rally behind a single candidate was driven by the need to avoid fragmentation of votes and strengthen the opposition’s chances at the polls. Photo Credit: Channels Television

Leaders of the leading opposition political parties in Nigeria, who gathered in Ibadan at the weekend have explained why they resolved to present a united front in the 2027 General Elections and why they plan to field a single presidential candidate to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

NewsOrient reports that this decision was one of the major highlights of a National Summit of Opposition Political Leaders held on Saturday in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The theme of the summit is “Safeguarding Nigeria’s Democracy: A National Dialogue.

The summit, hosted in Ibadan by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, attracted several leading political figures from different opposition political parties, including the PDP and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Among the top leaders were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party 2023 Presidential Candidate Peter Obi, former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola, former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, Senator David Mark, factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Taminu Turaki, political economist Prof. Pat Utomi, and elder statesman Prof. Jerry Gana, among others.

At the end of the summit, they adopted a joint communique captioned ‘Ibadan Declaration,’ in which they resolved to work in unity and to field a single Presidential candidate amongst them during the 2027 Elections.

According to the leaders, “the decision to rally behind a single candidate is driven by the need to avoid fragmentation of votes and to strengthen the opposition’s chances at the polls.”

Former Senate President of Nigeria, David Mark, amplified this position when he described the moment as a “national rescue mission.”

He said: “We cannot confront the future as fragmented entities. This is the time to rewrite the story of coalition building in Nigeria.”

In the communique the group issued at the end of the summit, opposition parties also affirmed their “commitment to contest the 2027 Elections at all levels,” expressing their determination to fight all attempts to impose a one-party state in Nigeria, insisting that they must be credible alternatives for Nigerians to choose from.

Beyond the consensus candidacy plan, the declaration also raised concerns over the credibility of the electoral process.
They passed a vote of no confidence in the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan SAN.

The opposition leaders alleged bias and called for his removal from overseeing the 2027 elections.

~ Published By NewsOrient Network

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