Atiku, Obi, Others Close To Consensus Presidential Candidacy, Says G100 Coalition

Atiku, Obi, Others Close to Consensus Presidential Candidacy, Says G100 Coalition Opposition leaders across several political parties are making progress towards selecting a consensus presidential candidate to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election, the G100 Coalition has said. The coalition disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja while inaugurating its legal and media committees to strengthen negotiations among opposition parties and their presidential hopefuls. The parties involved include the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Allied Peoples Movement (APM). Presidential figures being considered in the consultations include former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke and SDP presidential hopeful Adewole Adebayo.Chairman of the G100 Coalition, Professor Sadiq Umar Gombe, expressed optimism that the ongoing discussions would produce an arrangement capable of presenting a strong challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). “Our ambition is to present a candidate that can defeat APC and form the next government, and we’re making very good progress,” Gombe said. He explained that the inauguration of the committees represented a shift from political declarations to a structured negotiation process aimed at addressing differences among participating parties. The coalition said the committees would help establish the framework needed to sustain discussions, resolve potential disputes and develop a workable agreement ahead of the election. The legal committee, comprising national legal advisers and other senior legal representatives of participating parties, is expected to examine the legal and constitutional implications of the proposed alliance. Its responsibilities include reviewing pending legal disputes involving the parties, assessing relevant court judgments and advising the coalition on lawful options for cooperation. The committee will also scrutinise proposed agreements, identify potential legal risks and recommend safeguards and dispute-resolution mechanisms before any final arrangement is adopted. Gombe warned members against overlooking legal issues that could undermine months of negotiations. “We cannot afford surprises. A single overlooked clause can undo months of honest negotiation,” he said, urging the committee to approach its assignment with diligence and independent judgment. The media and publicity committee, meanwhile, will coordinate joint communications, media engagements and public announcements to ensure consistent messaging among participating parties. Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Peter Agada, has expressed willingness to work with Atiku and Obi if they share his vision for Nigeria. Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show, Agada said he was open to collaborating with either or both opposition figures. He said his political project was focused on building support beyond party affiliations, adding that he had spent the weeks following his emergence as the YPP candidate consulting and mobilising supporters. Agada also said he was targeting between two million and 10 million votes, expressing confidence that his support base would continue to grow. His position adds another dimension to the wider discussions over cooperation among opposition figures ahead of the 2027 polls. Despite the coalition’s optimism, disagreements remain over the choice of candidate, the political platform to adopt and the terms under which other aspirants would support a consensus arrangement. The ADC has previously said its participation in G100-facilitated discussions concerns broader electoral cooperation, including protecting votes, rather than an automatic commitment to fielding a single presidential candidate. A faction of the ADC led by Nafiu Bala Gombe has also publicly rejected any alliance involving the party and Atiku Abubakar, illustrating the legal and political complications confronting the negotiations. The coalition has yet to announce a final agreement or name a consensus candidate. The G100 initiative is seeking to avoid a divided opposition, with its supporters arguing that cooperation among parties could improve their chances against Tinubu and the APC in 2027. Whether the negotiations result in a single candidate or a broader electoral pact will depend on the willingness of the participating parties and aspirants to reach an acceptable compromise.