Presidential candidates and opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Donald Duke, Adebayo Adewole Ebenezer and Sandy Onor, have commenced fresh consultations on plans to forge a common political front against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The consultations are being facilitated by the G100, a political advocacy group led by Salihu Lukman, following its August 2, 2026 open letter to opposition leaders, civil society organisations, leaders of thought and Nigerians of good conscience.

In the letter, the group unveiled what it described as the “Doctrine of Necessary Democratic Opposition,” which advocates a strong and competitive opposition capable of providing Nigerians with a credible alternative to the ruling party.

The G100 said it had engaged the leadership of six opposition parties, including presidential candidates, running mates and national chairmen, as part of efforts to build consensus ahead of the 2027 elections.

The parties are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The initiative comes amid concerns that multiple opposition candidates could divide the opposition vote and potentially strengthen the APC’s chances of retaining the presidency.

The G100 said its consultations had revealed growing recognition among opposition leaders that greater cooperation would be necessary, although no agreement had been reached on a common presidential candidate or the structure of a possible alliance.

The group said the discussions had deliberately been kept away from the media to allow political leaders to engage openly and negotiate without the pressure associated with premature publicity.

It stressed that building a successful opposition alliance would require trust, compromise and the willingness of political actors to place broader national interests above individual and party ambitions.

Atiku-Obasanjo Rift Political, Not Personal — Aide

Meanwhile, Atiku’s Senior Political Assistant, Demola Olarewaju, has described the lingering disagreement between the former Vice President and former President Olusegun Obasanjo as political rather than personal.

Olarewaju spoke during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, where he appeared alongside the Executive Director of the Centre for Responsive Governance, Ayodeji Ologun.

He said Atiku continued to hold Obasanjo in high esteem despite their political differences, insisting that there was no personal grievance between the two former leaders.

According to Olarewaju, the disagreement was rooted largely in politics, alleging that Obasanjo did not want Atiku to become president.

He also described Obasanjo’s political activities since leaving office in 2007 as a “journey of redemption,” suggesting that the former president had over the years sought to rebuild his relationship with the Yoruba people.

Olarewaju, however, argued that simply changing the occupant of the presidency without addressing the underlying structure of governance would not resolve Nigeria’s challenges.

Ologun, on his part, said Obasanjo’s position on Atiku had changed significantly over the years.

He recalled that Obasanjo spoke positively about Atiku in the build-up to the 2019 presidential election, particularly concerning the former vice president’s understanding of governance.

Wike Denies Lobbying for APC Campaign DG Position

Meanwhile, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has denied reports that he is lobbying to become Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 elections.

Wike, who reaffirmed his support for President Tinubu’s re-election bid, said he did not need a formal position in the President’s campaign structure to contribute to his electoral victory.

The minister made the clarification through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, who described the reports as false.

Wike maintained that his commitment to Tinubu’s re-election was not dependent on securing any position in the campaign organisation.

Tinubu Campaigners Dismiss Opposition Alliance

Similarly, campaigners under the aegis of the Renewed Hope Project 2027 have dismissed the proposed opposition alliance, describing it as no threat to President Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The group’s Chairman, Board of Trustees, retired Major General Abdulmalik Jibril, described the proposed coalition as an “exercise in futility,” arguing that the performance of the Tinubu administration, rather than political calculations, would determine the outcome of the 2027 presidential election.

Jibril spoke during the inauguration and official unveiling of the Renewed Hope Project 2027, themed “A New Beginning, A Shared Vision, With Greater Nigeria.”

He said the combination of opposition politicians would not unsettle Tinubu’s chances of securing a second term.

The Director-General of the organisation, Dauda Salihu, said the group would take the administration’s policies and achievements to Nigerians at the grassroots.

Salihu said the project would focus on communicating the government’s programmes directly to voters and encouraging citizens to assess the Tinubu administration based on its record.