Opposition political parties in Nigeria have resolved to form a united front ahead of the 2027 general elections, declaring their commitment to resist what they described as attempts by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to impose a one-party state.
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Opposition Political Parties National Summit held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
A key outcome of the summit was the agreement among participating parties to work towards presenting a single presidential candidate for the 2027 elections. The parties stated that such a unified candidacy would be collectively agreed upon and supported as part of efforts to “rescue the nation.”
The summit also rejected alleged moves to ensure the emergence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the sole candidate in the next presidential election, insisting that opposition parties would actively field candidates across all levels.
On electoral governance, the parties called for the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, accusing him of bias and partisanship in favour of the ruling party. The communiqué argued that his continued stay in office could undermine public trust and potentially trigger national instability.
In addition, the summit urged the National Assembly to urgently review the Electoral Act 2026, particularly provisions perceived to threaten the integrity of elections or conflict with constitutional standards.
The opposition parties also demanded the immediate release of politicians allegedly detained or harassed over bailable offences, stressing the need to uphold fundamental rights and inclusive political participation.
Concerns were further raised over recent guidelines issued by INEC, which the summit described as restrictive and deliberately designed to disadvantage opposition parties. The parties called for an extension of the deadline for party primaries to the end of July 2026.
Despite the concerns raised, the summit commended Nigerians for their resilience and willingness to support democratic change, expressing optimism about building a broader coalition ahead of the elections.
