2027: Atiku, Makinde, Mark, Turaki, Obi, Kwankwaso, Aregbesola, Amaechi and others meet in Ibadan and promise to field a presidential candidate to challenge the APC

Opposition political parties in Nigeria have agreed to field a candidate for the 2027 presidential elections.

The agreement was announced in a statement issued at the end of the national summit, held on Saturday at the banquet hall of the Oyo State Government House, Ibadan.

Reading the statement, Taminu Turaki, national president of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), explained that all leaders of the opposition parties will work to achieve the goal.

According to him, the agreement aims to save the nation and its long-suffering masses.

The leaders also said they would resist all machinations of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to impose a one-party state on Nigeria and fight for the survival of multi-party democracy.

They called on the National Assembly to immediately review the Election Law 2026 by removing all sections that threaten the sanctity and integrity of elections and go against the constitutional provisions.

According to the statement, the leaders expressed their reservations over the possibility of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan conducting the 2027 general elections.

They accused the INEC chief of showing partiality and factionalism, doubting his ability to ensure the neutrality needed to hold free, fair, transparent and credible elections.

Opposition leaders also considered INEC’s recently released guidelines to be obstacles, claiming they were deliberately designed to impose conditions and deadlines on opposition parties.

“We therefore ask that CENI extend the deadline for the primaries until the end of July 2026”, reads the statement.

The parties also called for the immediate release of all detained key politicians and those being persecuted for bailable offences.

This, they said, would enable them to exercise their fundamental rights of participation and inclusiveness as Nigerians.

The opposition, however, praised Nigerians for their resilience and willingness to work with opposition parties to liberate the nation.

Parties at the summit include the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labor Party (LP) and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).

The following political leaders were present: Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, Governor Seyi Makinde, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, Professor Jerry Gana, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, General Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Alhaji Babangida Aliyu and Mr Peter Obi.

Others are Kabiru Turaki, Ogbeni Raufu Aregbesola, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso, Senator David Mark, Prof. Pat Utomi and others.