Opposition political parties and leaders have stepped up efforts to forge a common front ahead of the 2027 general elections, with a proposal for a four-year Government of National Competence emerging as one of the key issues at a national opposition summit in Abuja.
The proposal was presented on Monday by the G100, a civic and political advocacy platform, at the first national summit of Nigeria’s opposition parties held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre.
The summit attracted representatives of 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), as well as presidential and vice-presidential candidates and members of the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives.
At the opening session, the SDP presidential candidate, Prince Adebayo Adewole; PRP presidential candidate, Donald Duke; and APM vice-presidential candidate, Lawal Daura, were among those in attendance. ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi were expected at the summit.
Presenting the G100’s opening remarks, Mallam Salihu Moh. Lukman said the proposed Government of National Competence would be based on competence, integrity, national inclusion and equitable representation.
He said the proposed administration would operate under a four-year National Reset Programme, with participating parties committing themselves to a single four-year transition term through an enforceable Transition Charter.
Lukman said the proposed arrangement was intended to move beyond the traditional practice of opposition parties forming alliances primarily around electoral calculations.
“The Framework before you propose something more demanding than a merger of ambitions: a Government of National Competence, built on competence, integrity, national inclusion, and fair representation of every party that contributes to the effort,” he said.
He emphasised that the word “enforceable” was central to the proposal, arguing that political agreements often collapsed when individual interests changed.
“Nigerian politics has never suffered from a shortage of sincere promises. What it has suffered from is promises that nobody could enforce when the person who made them changed his/her mind,” he said.
Lukman insisted that any agreement reached by the parties should be formally documented, witnessed and backed by consequences for non-compliance.
2015 alliance as model
The G100 representative said the opposition could learn from the experience of 2015, when several parties came together to form the APC and successfully defeated the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party.
He recalled that opposition parties had contested separately in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential elections, but eventually established a common platform ahead of the 2015 election.
According to him, the lessons of that alliance were not sustained in 2023, when votes were divided among several opposition presidential candidates.
He said the eventual winner received less than nine million votes, while two leading opposition candidates secured nearly seven million and slightly more than six million votes respectively.
“Thirteen million votes on one side of the argument, under nine million on the other,” Lukman said, describing the outcome as the predictable consequence of opposition division rather than a conspiracy.
He argued that the opposition's ability to present a credible and united alternative would be crucial to its prospects in 2027.
Committees to drive coalition talks
Lukman disclosed that the proposed coalition framework would be managed through three standing committees.
A Central Leadership Committee, made up of national chairmen, national secretaries and presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the participating parties, would provide political direction.
A Publicity and Communication Committee would coordinate the coalition's public messaging, while a Legal Committee would provide legal advice and develop strategies on issues arising from the proposed alliance.
He said the G100 would serve only as facilitator and observer, subject to the approval of the political parties.
Five additional working groups are expected to prepare documents for consideration at a second summit.
The groups would focus on a National Covenant for Democratic Renewal, a Single-Term Transition Charter, a National Reform Programme, a Framework for Opposition Unity and a Roadmap to a Common Presidential Candidate.
The working groups are expected to submit their papers within four weeks.
Lukman stressed that the first summit was not intended to dissolve political parties or compel presidential aspirants to withdraw from the race.
“It is not asking any party to dissolve. It is not asking any party to disappear into another party. It is not asking any candidate to stand down this morning,” he said.
Rather, he said, the immediate objective was to establish the framework for negotiations among the parties.
“What we are asking you to authorise today is that we build the table before we negotiate the seats around it,” he added.
Reps minority leader backs unity
The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives also called on opposition parties to put aside their differences and work towards a common political objective.
Minority Leader, Hon. Fred Agbedi, urged opposition leaders to emulate the cooperation that produced the APC's 2015 victory.
He said unity of purpose was essential and encouraged opposition leaders to actively participate in meetings and initiatives aimed at strengthening collaboration.
Agbedi also urged the opposition to carefully assess the political environment and develop a coordinated response to the governing party.
His comments reinforced the central message of the summit: that opposition fragmentation could undermine attempts to present a credible alternative in 2027.
‘Opposition owes Nigerians a choice’
Lukman appealed to political leaders to approach the coalition negotiations with openness and a willingness to make compromises.
He warned that publicly declaring rigid positions could complicate negotiations, while hiding political interests could cause the coalition to collapse later.
“A hard line declared this morning is a problem that can be solved between now and the Second Summit. A hard line concealed this morning is a coalition that collapses in October,” he said.
He further stated that the G100 had no preferred candidate among the participating parties.
“We are not promoting any candidate, no preference among the six parties in this hall, and nothing to gain from one of you rather than another,” Lukman said.
He said the group was motivated by the need to ensure that Nigerians had a genuine alternative at election time.
He referenced the difficulties faced by Nigerians across the country, including rising education costs, displacement caused by insecurity and unemployment.
“They are entitled to something, and it is this: a real choice, presented by serious people, capable of governing. That is all a democratic opposition owes its country, and it is not a small debt,” he said.
The Abuja summit is expected to kick-start further negotiations among the participating parties on a common reform agenda, coalition structure and possible joint presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
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