Opposition political parties vow to field one presidential candidate in 2027

Sunday, April 26, 2026 - Opposition political parties have agreed to present a single presidential candidate for the 2027 general election to challenge the incumbent President, Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

The political parties adopted this resolution on Saturday at the national summit of the opposition political party leaders held in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state.

They equally issued a stern warning that Nigeria’s democracy is under increasing strain and requires urgent collective action to safeguard it.

The summit, which is entitled; “Safeguarding Nigeria’s Democracy: A National Dialogue,” brought together key opposition figures across party lines, culminating in the adoption of a joint communiqué known as the Ibadan Declaration.

According to the leaders at the event, the decision to rally behind a single candidate was driven by the need to avoid fragmentation of votes and strengthen the opposition’s chances at the polls.

Speaking, Governor Seyi Makinde, the host of the summit, in his welcome address, warned of a steady erosion of democratic competition, noting that the concentration of political power under one party threatens pluralism.

Makinde reminded the ruling party that the ‘wet e’ era in Ibadan, which he said must not be allowed to repeat itself.

“Democracy without opposition is not democracy, it is a slow drift toward a one-party state,” he said.

On his part, factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Taminu Turaki, described the move as both strategic and necessary, warning that disunity has historically weakened opposition efforts.

“A single stick can be broken easily, but a bundle of sticks is far more difficult to break,” he said, urging political actors to prioritise national interest over individual ambition.

Also speaking, former Senate President David Mark described the moment as a “national rescue mission,” stressing that no single opposition party could confront the current political structure alone.

“We cannot confront the future as fragmented entities. This is the time to rewrite the story of coalition building in Nigeria,” Mark said.