A coalition of 100 prominent Nigerians under the umbrella of the G-100 has called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party leader Peter Obi, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to put aside their individual ambitions and unite behind a single presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.
The group warned that unless the opposition presents one consensus candidate, President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) could secure another victory in the next presidential election.
The position of the coalition was contained in a seven-page open letter dated August 2, 2026, titled “The Doctrine of a Necessary Democratic Opposition.” The letter was 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 other prominent Nigerians.
According to the coalition, Nigeria’s current challenges go beyond inflation, unemployment and poverty, arguing that the country’s democracy is under greater threat because of a weak and divided opposition.
The group said the opposition has allowed personal ambitions and political rivalries to take priority over national interest, while the APC continues to strengthen its grip on power.
It maintained that democracy can only function properly when there is a strong and credible opposition capable of peacefully replacing the government through elections.
To achieve that goal, the G-100 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 warned that any opposition figure who insists on pursuing an individual presidential ambition would only improve the APC’s chances of retaining power in 2027.
In the letter, the group declared, “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.”
It added, “The ruling party grows stronger… while those entrusted with presenting Nigerians an alternative have become divided by ambition rather than united by purpose.”
The coalition further stated, “Nigeria cannot be rescued by opposition leaders who march separately toward the same defeat. Personal ambition must submit to national necessity.”
According to the group, the planned meeting will seek a “solemn covenant” from opposition leaders to place national interest above personal political ambitions and adopt the Ibadan Declaration of April 2026 as the framework for producing a consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
The call comes just days after the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, predicted that President Tinubu would defeat both Atiku and Obi in the next presidential election.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Keyamo dismissed suggestions that the opposition could stop the APC from retaining power.
Responding to questions about the ruling party’s chances, he said, “Everybody in the world has attested to the facts. To be honest, nobody can say all of it now. But we won in Ekiti. We told them to vote and they voted. In the FCT, they voted. We won already.”
When asked about Obi’s prospects in 2027, Keyamo replied, “I’m looking around. Between you and me, where will Obi’s votes come from? I can’t see it.”
He maintained his position even after the interviewer suggested that many Nigerians would disagree, saying, “I don’t see where it will come from.”
Asked whether Atiku posed a serious challenge to the APC, the minister responded, “Atiku, who?… Look, listen. I want to make a profound closing statement. Not out of arrogance. Not out of overconfidence. But out of pure demographic calculations. The 2027 election is a coronation, not an election. I repeat, don’t take me out of context. Out of pure demographic calculations, it’s a coronation.”
After the interviewer asked whether he was suggesting that the election would be rigged, Keyamo rejected the interpretation. He said, “You see yourself. You heard what I said. Demographic calculations. You are taking it somewhere else. I didn’t say that.”
The minister ended the interview jokingly in pidgin, saying, “I don tey with una, no dey worry me like this… Everywhere go blur.”
