Opposition political parties have begun discussions in Abuja on how they can work together ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The summit, organised by the G-100, is being held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre under the theme, “A Framework for Opposition Cooperation and Coordination.”
Representatives of several opposition parties are taking part in the meeting, including the African Democratic Congress, Allied Peoples Movement, National Democratic Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Peoples Redemption Party and Social Democratic Party.
The meeting comes as opposition parties face the challenge of balancing their individual political interests with calls for a stronger common front ahead of the next presidential election.
The organisers say the immediate objective is not to choose a presidential candidate, but to create a structure through which the parties can discuss areas of cooperation and agree on how they can work together.
For the parties, one of the major issues is how to avoid a situation where multiple opposition candidates divide the votes that could otherwise strengthen their chances in the 2027 contest.
The G-100 has argued that a fragmented opposition could give an advantage to the ruling party, while a coordinated approach could provide voters with a stronger alternative.
But bringing the different political interests together will not be without challenges.
Some of the major figures associated with the opposition already have presidential ambitions, while the parties involved have their own structures, identities and political priorities.
This means that reaching agreement on issues such as the form of any alliance, the role of each party and, eventually, the question of a common candidate could prove difficult.
The organisers, however, say the first step is to establish a process that allows those issues to be discussed openly and collectively, rather than attempting to resolve everything at one meeting.
The outcome of the discussions could therefore provide an early indication of whether Nigeria’s opposition parties are able to overcome their differences and build a more coordinated platform ahead of 2027.
For voters, with the 2027 elections ahead, the bigger question is what such cooperation would mean beyond the election itself — particularly whether the emerging alliance would be built around clear policies and a shared vision for governing the country.
