By Isaac Mission
A coalition of concerned Nigerians under the G100 initiative has announced plans to bring major opposition figures and political parties together in Abuja as part of efforts to forge a stronger opposition alliance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group said it has completed the initial round of consultations with leaders of six opposition parties, describing the discussions as productive and encouraging.
Among those contacted are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), as well as Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
The G100 also disclosed that it held discussions with representatives of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP).
In a statement signed by Salihu Moh. Lukman, the coalition said its engagements involved national party chairmen, presidential candidates and running mates.
According to the group, the consultations were deliberately conducted privately to enable political leaders to speak openly without the pressure associated with public attention.
The initiative followed an open letter released by the G100 on August 2, 2026, titled “Doctrine of Necessary Democratic Opposition,” which called on opposition leaders, civil society organisations and Nigerians to work towards building a credible alternative ahead of 2027.
The coalition said the meetings showed that opposition leaders broadly recognised the importance of working together, while acknowledging that achieving such unity would require compromise, sacrifice and a willingness to place national interests above personal and party ambitions.
Opposition summit scheduled for August 18
As part of efforts to move the discussions forward, the G100 announced that it will host a Summit of Opposition Parties on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, in Abuja.
The summit is expected to provide an opportunity for the participating parties to examine possible areas of cooperation and discuss a framework for greater opposition unity.
The G100 stressed that it was not seeking to determine the outcome of the discussions or impose a particular arrangement on the political parties.
Rather, the coalition said its objective was to facilitate dialogue, strengthen trust among the parties and create an environment where difficult issues surrounding cooperation, accommodation and collective action could be addressed.
It added that any eventual agreement must take into account the legitimate interests of the participating parties while putting the interests of Nigerians at the centre of the process.
The group maintained that a healthy democracy requires voters to have access to a strong and credible alternative capable of effectively challenging the ruling establishment.
It warned that continued fragmentation among opposition parties could weaken their ability to provide such an alternative in the 2027 elections.
The G100 described the recent consultations as only the beginning of a longer process, noting that achieving meaningful opposition unity would require patience, courage and considerable compromise from political actors.
The coalition reaffirmed its commitment to supporting discussions among Nigeria's major opposition parties in what it described as a good-faith effort to strengthen the country's democratic system ahead of 2027.
