Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde are expected to meet on August 18, 2026, as opposition leaders intensify efforts to form a united front against President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The planned meeting is being facilitated by the G100, a coalition of concerned Nigerians seeking greater cooperation among opposition political parties ahead of the polls.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by Salihu Moh. Lukman on behalf of the G100, the group said it had concluded the first round of consultations with leaders of six opposition political parties.
The coalition said it had engaged Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, as well as representatives of the Allied Peoples Movement and other opposition parties.
It added that consultations had also been held with the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, Peoples Redemption Party and Social Democratic Party.
According to the statement, the meetings with national chairmen, presidential candidates and their running mates were “frank, constructive and encouraging.”
The G100 said the consultations followed its August 2, 2026, open letter to opposition leaders, civil society groups and Nigerians, in which it outlined what it described as the “Doctrine of Necessary Democratic Opposition.”
The group explained that it deliberately kept the meetings away from the media to allow party leaders to discuss sensitive issues freely without pressure from premature public commentary.
It said the consultations showed that the opposition parties recognised the need to work more closely together ahead of the 2027 election.
According to the coalition, the parties acknowledged that building a credible and effective opposition would require sacrifice, compromise and a willingness to put the national interest above individual and partisan interests.
The G100 said preparations were now underway for a Summit of Opposition Parties scheduled to hold on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, in Abuja.
The summit is expected to provide a platform for the parties to begin discussions on how to achieve greater opposition unity and cooperation ahead of the 2027 elections.
“The G100 does not presume to dictate the outcome of these conversations. Our role is to facilitate dialogue, build confidence and help create the conditions in which the participating political parties can openly consider the difficult questions of cooperation, sacrifice, accommodation and collective action,” the statement said.
The group stressed that any agreement reached must accommodate the legitimate interests of participating parties while ensuring that the interests of Nigerians remain the priority.
It also argued that Nigeria’s democracy would be strengthened by the emergence of a credible opposition capable of effectively challenging the ruling party at the polls.
The coalition warned that continued division among opposition parties could weaken their chances of providing a strong alternative to Nigerians in 2027.
The G100 said the consultations were only the beginning of the process, adding that achieving opposition unity would require patience, courage and sacrifice from all parties involved.
