By Daniel Tyokua
A coalition of 100 prominent Nigerians, under the auspices of the G-100, has warned that the opposition will hand President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) another victory in the 2027 presidential election unless it rallies behind a single candidate.
The G-100 position is contained in a seven-page open letter titled, “The Doctrine of a Necessary Democratic Opposition,” dated August 2, 2026, urging opposition figures—including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso—to put aside personal ambitions and immediately begin negotiations to produce a consensus presidential candidate.
The letter, signed by former APC National Vice Chairman (North-West), Salihu Lukman; former House of Representatives member, Nnenna Ukeje; former Kogi State Deputy Governor, Simon Achuba; Professor Anthony Kila; and 96 others, argued that Nigeria’s democracy is under increasing pressure and requires a united opposition to provide a credible alternative to the APC-led government.
According to the coalition, Nigeria’s crisis extends beyond inflation, unemployment and poverty, insisting that the country’s greatest danger is the steady weakening of democratic institutions through a fragmented opposition and the concentration of political power.
The group accused opposition parties of allowing personal ambitions and internal rivalries to overshadow the national interest while the APC continues to strengthen its political dominance.
The G-100 maintained that democracy can only thrive when there is a strong and credible opposition capable of peacefully replacing the government through elections.
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To achieve this, the coalition announced plans to convene a National Council of Opposition Leaders within the next two weeks. The meeting is expected to bring together Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso, Amaechi, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, former Senate President David Mark, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and other political leaders to negotiate a common political platform and agree on a single presidential candidate.
The coalition stressed that any opposition leader who insists on pursuing an individual presidential ambition would only increase the APC’s chances of retaining power in 2027.
The letter reads, “There are seasons in the life of every nation when neutrality becomes a form of consent, and silence becomes an accomplice to decline. Nigeria has entered such a season.
“The ruling party grows stronger… while those entrusted with presenting Nigerians an alternative have become divided by ambition rather than united by purpose.
“Nigeria cannot be rescued by opposition leaders who march separately toward the same defeat. Personal ambition must submit to national necessity,” the group declared.
It added that the proposed meeting would seek a “solemn covenant” from opposition leaders to place national interest above personal political aspirations and adopt the Ibadan Declaration of April 2026 as the framework for producing a consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 election” It said.
