Opposition political parties have announced plans to present a single presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The resolution was adopted on Saturday at the national summit of the opposition political party leaders held in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state.
This decision was announced by a factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Kabiru Tanimu-Turaki.
Leaders from multiple political parties gathered on Saturday in Ibadan to discuss strategy ahead of the next election cycle.
Tanimu-Turaki said the move was aimed at strengthening the opposition’s chances at the polls, despite what he described as alleged attempts to ensure President Bola Tinubu emerges unopposed within the ruling party.
He said the opposition was determined to work together despite what he described as “onslaughts and machinations” allegedly aimed at positioning President Bola Tinubu as the sole candidate for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
He said, “Despite the onslaughts and machinations of the ruling party, the APC, to ensure that President Bola Tinubu emerges as the sole presidential candidate in 2027, we shall field candidates and contest the 2027 presidential and other elections.
“Three, that we shall work towards fielding one presidential candidate for the 2027 elections. We shall be agreed and supported by all participating opposition parties to rescue our nation and our long-suffering masses,” he said.
The opposition leaders also called for the resignation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, accusing him of alleged bias in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
They argued that his continued stay in office could undermine public confidence in the electoral process and potentially trigger political tensions ahead of the 2027 elections.
“INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, having shown bias and open partisanship in favour of the ruling APC, should not conduct the 2027 general election as Nigerians across the board have lost confidence in him and his capacity to guarantee the required neutrality to deliver a free, fair, transparent, and credible election.
“His continued stay in office is vexatious and capable of triggering widespread crises in our nation.”
The summit, which also featured prominent opposition leaders including former Senate President David Mark, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, amongst others, centered on calls for unity among opposition parties, electoral reforms, and what participants described as the need to “rescue Nigeria” from worsening economic and security challenges.
