Opposition political parties in Nigeria have agreed to form a united front to challenge the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections, following a national summit held in Ibadan on Saturday.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the parties said they would “resist all machinations by the APC to foist a one-party State on Nigeria” and vowed to protect multi-party democracy.
The summit, attended by chairmen of participating opposition parties, resolved to field a single presidential candidate for 2027 through consensus, aimed at “rescuing the nation and her long-suffering masses.” The parties also pledged to contest all elections at federal, state and local levels despite what they described as APC’s efforts to position President Bola Tinubu as the sole candidate.
A major point of contention was the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The parties accused INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan of bias toward the ruling party and called for his immediate removal, arguing that Nigerians have lost confidence in his neutrality. They said his continued stay in office could trigger a nationwide crisis.
The communiqué also urged the National Assembly to review the Electoral Act 2026, claiming some sections undermine the integrity and sanctity of elections. The parties further demanded the release of political figures currently detained or harassed over bailable offences, saying they should be allowed to exercise their constitutional rights.
On the electoral timeline, the opposition rejected recent INEC guidelines, describing them as deliberate obstacles designed to impose deadlines on opposition parties. They called for an extension of the deadline for party primaries to the end of July 2026.
The summit commended Nigerians for their resilience and willingness to work with opposition parties to end what it termed “State capture.” It also thanked Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and the people of Oyo for hosting the event.
The declaration marks one of the most coordinated moves by opposition parties since the 2023 elections, as political alignments begin to take shape ahead of 2027.
