Utomi will lead talks with Atiku, Obi and others to form a single opposition against Tinubu

Efforts to form a formidable opposition against incumbent President Bola Tinubu are still being discussed as opposition figures coordinate talks among leading politicians and groups to unite them under one banner.

The Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) is one such group, with one-time presidential advisor, Professor Pat Utomi, taking the lead in closed-door talks with presidential candidates from the main opposition to find a single candidate to challenge President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 presidential elections.

Meetings with the candidates and their party leaders are expected to conclude within two weeks, according to the MCE.

Those expected to be involved include Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, Peter Obi of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party, Seyi Makinde of the Allied People’s Movement, Donald Duke of the People’s Redemption Party, Sandy Onor of the Democratic People’s Party, Peter Agada of the Young Progressive Party and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress.

The development was disclosed in a statement on Monday by MCE Media Coordinator, James Ezema.

The statement said the Utomi-led Political Commission would hold closed meetings to prevent what it called sabotage by “mercenaries and political workers” who oppose the initiative.

It said the engagement was intended to avoid a repeat of previous opposition arrangements where political actors agreed on the need for a united front but disagreed on the need to select a candidate to lead the alliance.

The statement read, “The Prof Pat Utomi-led Political Commission initiated by the Movement for Credible Elections, MCE, to create an Opposition Coalition for a Single Presidential Candidate in the 2027 Elections has decided to meet with the opposition presidential candidate-elect and his party leaders behind closed doors ahead of a tactical session scheduled to be held in Ibadan in two weeks.

“The reason for holding this closed-door meeting, the commission said, was to prevent sabotage from political mercenaries and workers who oppose the initiative and are determined to derail the negotiations and horse-trading between the presidential candidates-elect.

“Nigeria cannot afford another opposition arrangement where political actors agree on the need for a united front but disagree on the need to determine the starting point and common ground of the electoral alliance.”

The MCE said the selection process would be based on credibility, transparency, fairness, due process and equity, stressing that modalities and terms of support would be agreed upon by all participating candidates and parties.

The movement said the criteria for evaluating candidates will include “national acceptance, competence, integrity, leadership profile, political electability, policy orientation, commitment to democratic institutions, capacity to unite the country and ability to work with diverse social interests.”

He added that the process would also take into account the candidates’ understanding of Nigerian political and democratic issues, including what he described as national constitutional questions.

MCE said the proposed coalition would be based on a clearly articulated national program that Nigerians could research before being asked to support any candidate.

“The Nigerian people deserve more than a coalition of political figures. They deserve a coalition of ideas, competencies, values ​​and a coherent ideological program for national salvation,” the statement read.

The movement says the process will not only produce consensus-generating candidates but also a shared democratic and governance agenda to address insecurity, economic hardship, unemployment, poverty, institutional breakdown, electoral integrity, constitutional reform, education, health care, energy and the high cost of governance.

It said their role was not to impose a candidate on any political party or candidate, but to facilitate a credible process so that the opposition could reach a broadly acceptable political agreement.

“The ultimate aim is to offer the Nigerian people a credible and people-oriented government from the Nigerian opposition and not simply another side of the same coin, and that political negotiations are inevitable in a democratic coalition because those who truly seek to present a democratic alternative to the Nigerian people must be prepared to make personal sacrifices, accommodate others and realize that no single individual or political party can compete tough against the ruling party.”

Utomi will be joined at the MCE event by Maryam Ciroma, Modupe Adelaja, Solomon Dalung, Uche Onyeagocha, Olusegun Mayegun, Sam Amadi, Mike Iginni, Obongawan Barbara Etim James, Olawale Okunniyi and Dr Adum Ter Alex.