Opposition political parties are set to begin formal discussions on cooperation ahead of the 2027 general election as the G100 convenes the First Summit of Key Stakeholders of Nigeria’s Opposition Political Parties in Abuja on Monday.
The summit, scheduled for August 31 at the Yar’Adua Centre, will bring together leaders and key stakeholders of six opposition parties to begin negotiations on a framework for cooperation and coordination ahead of the poll.
The participating parties are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The G100 said the summit would be held under the theme, “A Framework for Opposition Cooperation and Coordination,” adding that it would provide a platform for the parties to deliberate on the terms, institutions and principles that could guide their cooperation.
The group in a statement on Thursday, said the initiative followed the publication of its “Doctrine of a Necessary Democratic Opposition” on August 2 and several weeks of consultations with the leadership of the six opposition parties.
According to the G100, the consultations produced a shared briefing titled “A Framework for Opposition Cooperation and Coordination,” which identified areas where the parties could work together while recognising their different histories, identities and political interests.
The group said the discussions were driven by a common recognition of the need for a “credible, organised and competitive democratic opposition” ahead of the 2027 election.
It said the parties had also demonstrated a willingness to confront the difficult questions that meaningful cooperation would require.
“Cooperation does not require any party to disappear into another. The first question before party leaders is not who leads the ticket. It is what we are, together, prepared to do for this country,” the G100 said.
G100 said that Monday’s summit would not be used to decide the presidential candidate of a possible opposition alliance or determine the final form of cooperation among the parties.
It said the immediate objective was to establish a formal structure through which such issues could be negotiated collectively, transparently and in good faith.
“The First Summit is not intended to determine, in a single sitting, questions of presidential candidacy or the final form that opposition cooperation may take,” it said.
“Its immediate purpose is more fundamental, to establish and authorise a formal architecture through which those questions can be negotiated collectively, transparently and in good faith,” it added.
The G100 said each participating party was expected to attend with a delegation comprising national leaders and other key stakeholders drawn from relevant constituencies within the parties.
It said the arrangement would ensure that the discussions extended beyond the principal party leaders and incorporated a wider range of political experience, perspectives and interests.
Among the proposals expected before the summit is the establishment of structures to facilitate negotiations and cooperation among the parties.
The G100 also proposed five specialised working groups, which, subject to the decisions of the participating parties, would develop the principal documents and agreements required to give institutional form to the proposed cooperation.
The working groups are expected to complete their assignments within four weeks.
The summit is expected to be attended by national chairmen, party leaders and members of the National Working Committees of the six participating parties.
Presidential candidates and running mates of the participating parties are also expected, alongside G100 signatories and members of the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives.
The G100 stressed that it would participate in the process only as a facilitator and observer, rather than as a body seeking to take over the constitutional authority or decision-making structures of the political parties.
“The G100 is convening the Summit as facilitator and observer, and not as a substitute for the constitutional authority, independence or decision-making structures of the participating political parties,” it said.
It added that decisions arising from the process would remain the responsibility of the individual political parties.
The planned summit marks an effort by the opposition parties to move discussions about possible cooperation ahead of the 2027 election from informal consultations to a more structured process.
The G100 said the August 31 meeting would provide the platform for the parties to determine how they could work together while retaining their individual identities and political interests.
