The G100 coalition says it has completed the first phase of its G100 opposition talks with major political figures and opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections. The coalition described the consultations as frank, constructive and encouraging, saying they were aimed at finding common ground among political actors seeking an alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Among those consulted were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde. The group also held discussions with leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, and Social Democratic Party, SDP.
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Salihu Lukman, disclosed details of the consultations during an appearance on Arise Television.
Lukman said the objective was not to impose an arrangement on opposition leaders but to encourage them to build relationships that could eventually produce a common political platform. According to him, the discussions have reinforced the belief among the political leaders that national interest should take precedence over individual ambitions.
“The bottom line is that I think everybody acknowledges that the country deserves better and that we need leaders to put the country first before anything else,” he said.
He added that sustained engagement would be necessary to build the level of trust required for opposition leaders to make difficult political compromises.
“The strength of the relationship will determine how much sacrifice they can make for each other or how much trust they can invest in one another,” Lukman said.
The coalition acknowledged that personal presidential ambitions could complicate efforts to achieve opposition unity. Lukman noted that several of the leading opposition figures had presidential ambitions, while only one person could eventually emerge as the presidential candidate of a united platform.
“Each one of them wants to be President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but only one of them can be president,” he said.
He warned that allowing the major opposition figures to contest separately could divide their support and improve the chances of the APC and President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
“If we encourage them to continue to contest against each other, it will strengthen the main opponent,” he said.
The G100 opposition talks are not focused solely on producing a consensus candidate, according to Lukman. He said the coalition was also insisting that opposition leaders develop a clear policy programme that explains how they would address Nigeria’s major challenges. Lukman argued that Nigerians were interested in more than simply replacing one set of political leaders with another.
“It is not about changing faces in government,” he said, stressing the need for an alternative administration to explain how it would tackle the country’s problems.
Representatives nominated by the participating political parties are already working with the G100 to develop arrangements for a broader meeting. Lukman said the next stage would provide an opportunity for more concrete proposals to be considered by the opposition actors.
He acknowledged that bringing the various interests together would be difficult, particularly given the limited time before the 2027 elections. However, he expressed optimism that continued engagement could produce a stronger and more credible opposition alliance.
“Nigeria has to come first before anybody’s ambition or interest,” Lukman said.
The coalition’s next phase of engagement is therefore expected to test whether the goodwill generated during the G100 opposition talks can translate into a workable political arrangement ahead of 2027.
