Efforts by opposition groups to present a single presidential candidate against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election are facing a fresh challenge as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Seyi Makinde continue to pursue their presidential ambitions.
The three prominent opposition figures have so far resisted calls for some candidates to withdraw from the race in favour of a consensus candidate.
The development comes as the G-100 coalition intensifies consultations among opposition parties in an attempt to build a united political platform capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 presidential election.
The coalition recently held a summit in Abuja attended by representatives of six opposition parties. Discussions centred on cooperation among the parties and the possibility of selecting one presidential candidate to represent the opposition.
Ambassador Umanu Elijah, who spoke on the coalition’s efforts, said consultations were continuing behind the scenes. He expressed confidence that the group could arrive at a consensus candidate before the end of September.
According to him, the process involves discussions with the various presidential candidates and political parties, including those of Atiku, Obi and Makinde.
However, the push for a single candidate has met resistance from several opposition parties. The African Action Congress, Democratic Labour Alliance, Action Democratic Party and Allied Peoples’ Movement are among those reported to have rejected suggestions that their presidential candidates should step down for another aspirant.
Atiku, a former vice-president and candidate of the African Democratic Congress, remains a major figure in the opposition coalition. Obi, the former Anambra State governor, is also maintaining his presidential ambition, while Makinde has emerged as another potential contender.
The resistance highlights one of the major challenges facing the opposition as it attempts to form a unified front against Tinubu. While there is broad interest in defeating the APC at the polls, agreeing on who should lead the proposed coalition remains a difficult issue.
The G-100 has indicated that discussions will continue in the coming weeks as it seeks to persuade the various contenders to reach an agreement.
For now, however, the presidential ambitions of Atiku, Obi and Makinde remain intact, leaving the opposition’s proposed consensus arrangement far from settled ahead of the 2027 election.
