Opposition parties may be heading towards a fresh political alliance ahead of the 2027 general elections, following moves to unite their forces behind a common candidate.
The development emerged after the G-100 platform held consultations with leaders of six opposition parties and announced plans for a unity summit in Abuja on August 18.
The parties involved are the African Democratic Congress, Allied Peoples Movement, National Democratic Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Peoples Redemption Party and Social Democratic Party.
The G-100, in a statement issued on Monday by its representative, Salihu Lukman, said the consultations were aimed at finding areas of cooperation among the opposition groups and developing a stronger platform capable of challenging the ruling party.
According to the organisation, its representatives met with national party chairmen, presidential candidates and their running mates during the consultations.
It explained that the discussions were deliberately kept away from the media to allow the political leaders to freely address sensitive matters and consider possible areas of compromise.
The group said the meetings had produced a broad understanding that the opposition needed to reduce its divisions and work towards a coordinated political strategy before the 2027 polls.
However, it acknowledged that such an arrangement would require political leaders to make concessions and subordinate personal and party interests to what it described as the wider national interest.
The August 18 meeting is expected to give the parties an opportunity to consider the practical arrangements for cooperation, including the possibility of presenting a single presidential candidate.
The G-100 said it would not determine the outcome of the discussions, explaining that its responsibility was to bring the various interests together, encourage trust and create room for meaningful negotiations.
It added that any eventual agreement must recognise the interests of the participating parties while ensuring that the concerns and aspirations of Nigerians remain central to the process.
The proposed summit is also expected to consider the principles contained in the Ibadan Declaration, which called for a credible opposition arrangement and a possible sole candidate for the 2027 presidential contest.
The G-100 said the responses from the opposition leaders so far had given it reason to believe that there was room for greater cooperation, although considerable negotiations remained ahead.
It said preparations for the summit were being conducted in consultation with representatives of the parties involved.
The initiative comes against the backdrop of increasing attempts by opposition politicians to form a broad coalition capable of mounting a serious challenge in the next presidential election.
The group warned that the continued division of opposition forces could weaken their ability to offer Nigerians a viable alternative, stressing that electoral strength would depend largely on their capacity to work together.
It also urged the political actors to exercise patience and demonstrate a willingness to sacrifice individual ambitions in the interest of a broader democratic objective.
The August 18 summit is consequently expected to provide an early indication of whether the opposition parties can bridge their differences and agree on a common path towards the 2027 elections.
The latest development comes as political parties continue the process of submitting and uploading information on their presidential candidates and running mates to the Independent National Electoral Commission portal.
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