2027: Opposition Unity Push Faces Hurdle as Atiku, Obi, Makinde Hold Firm

Efforts to unite opposition parties behind a single presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general election are facing fresh challenges, as former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde maintain their presidential ambitions.

The three opposition figures have not indicated any willingness to withdraw from the presidential race in favour of another aspirant, despite ongoing consultations aimed at producing a consensus candidate.

The development could complicate efforts by the G-100, a coalition of political groups and stakeholders seeking to build a united opposition front ahead of the 2027 election.

A member of the coalition, Ambassador Umanu Elijah, said consultations were continuing and expressed confidence that the group would reach an agreement on a consensus candidate by September 30.

Atiku Maintains Presidential Ambition

Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, remains open to discussions with other opposition leaders but is also maintaining his ambition to contest the 2027 presidential election.

An ally of the former Vice-President said Atiku was not opposed to political alliances, pointing to the formation of the ADC as evidence of his commitment to opposition cooperation.

The ally maintained that Atiku would remain in the race and argued that opposition figures who believe he has the capacity to challenge President Bola Tinubu could eventually support his candidacy.

Obi Open to Consensus Talks

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has also maintained his position while participating in discussions with other opposition figures.

The NDC said its participation in discussions about a consensus candidate should not be interpreted as an indication that Obi has withdrawn from the race.

According to the party, Obi remains a strong contender and could emerge as the preferred candidate if opposition parties eventually agree on a common platform.

Obi has also continued to engage with other opposition politicians. On Monday, he attended the unveiling of Seyi Makinde’s presidential campaign office in Abuja and described the Oyo State governor as qualified to become Nigeria’s president.

Makinde Says He Is Contesting to Win

Makinde, who is contesting the presidency on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement, has equally shown no indication that he intends to step aside.

The APM said its candidate entered the race to win the 2027 election and not simply to participate in the contest.

The party acknowledged that discussions among opposition stakeholders were ongoing but rejected the assumption that Makinde would be the candidate expected to withdraw.

The party also argued that Makinde could still emerge as the consensus candidate from the ongoing negotiations.

G-100 Faces Difficult Consensus Negotiations

The resistance from the camps of Atiku, Obi and Makinde highlights the difficulty of producing a single opposition candidate when several politicians have established presidential ambitions.

The G-100 recently brought opposition stakeholders together at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja as part of efforts to build a common political front ahead of the 2027 election.

The coalition says its consultations are continuing and that it hopes to settle on a consensus candidate by September 30.

However, several other opposition parties and presidential candidates have also rejected the idea of automatically stepping down for another aspirant.

African Action Congress candidate Omoyele Sowore, for instance, has criticised the single-candidate approach, arguing that opposition cooperation should be based on a common ideology, clear programme and commitment to fundamental reforms rather than simply defeating the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The Bigger Political Question

The emerging disagreement puts the opposition’s proposed unity arrangement under pressure.

While there appears to be growing recognition among opposition politicians of the need for cooperation, the question of who should lead a possible unified ticket remains unresolved.

For VOP TV, the central question is therefore not simply whether opposition parties can agree to work together, but whether they can resolve their competing ambitions and establish a credible political arrangement capable of winning voter confidence ahead of the 2027 election.

With the G-100 targeting September 30 for a possible consensus, the coming weeks could prove critical to determining whether the opposition can move from discussions about unity to an agreed presidential candidate.