Opposition parties and political figures are expected to meet in Abuja on Monday, August 31, 2026, to discuss ways of working together ahead of the 2027 presidential election and challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
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The meeting, organised by the G-100 political group, is expected to focus on opposition cooperation, possible alliances and strategies that could prevent the opposition vote from being divided in the next presidential election.
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The summit comes as opposition politicians continue to debate the possibility of presenting a common candidate against Tinubu, who is seeking another term in office. However, differences among the parties over presidential ambitions, party structures and the terms of any proposed alliance remain major issues.
The Social Democratic Party, SDP, and the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, have confirmed that they will attend the meeting. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on the other hand, has distanced itself from the gathering and said it is not part of any opposition alliance being discussed outside its own structures.
The G-100 is led by former Director-General of the Progressives Governors Forum, Salihu Lukman. The group believes that opposition parties could face difficulties defeating an incumbent government if they continue to compete separately.
According to the group, the meeting is intended to create a platform where opposition parties can discuss areas of common interest without being forced to give up their individual identities or political ambitions.
The G-100 said parties could retain their structures and aspirations while still finding areas where they could cooperate for the wider interest of the country.
The group also pointed to previous elections where divided opposition votes helped strengthen incumbent candidates. It argued that parties seeking to challenge the ruling APC would need to consider how their separate campaigns could affect the overall opposition vote.
The SDP has expressed support for the initiative. Its National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, confirmed that the party’s presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, alongside the national leadership, would be present at the summit.
The party said it was willing to engage with other political groups and individuals interested in providing an alternative political direction for Nigeria.
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The PRP has also confirmed its attendance, adding to the number of opposition parties expected at the meeting.
The PDP, however, has taken a different position. Its spokesman, Jungudo Mohammed, said the party was not aware of the proposed opposition summit and was not involved in any planned alliance with another political party.
The PDP also stated that any opposition arrangement that does not involve the party would not have its backing.
The disagreement over participation shows some of the difficulties facing attempts to build a united opposition ahead of 2027. While several opposition politicians have spoken about the need for cooperation, there is still no clear agreement on how such cooperation would work or who could emerge as a common presidential candidate.
Some presidential hopefuls are also expected to resist calls to step down for another candidate, particularly as several politicians are already preparing their own campaigns.
The G-100 said Monday’s meeting would therefore not be about choosing winners among opposition parties. Instead, it would seek to start discussions on practical ways for the different groups to communicate, coordinate their activities and manage areas of disagreement.
The group has urged participants to approach the meeting with an open mind and place national interests above individual political ambitions.
The opposition alliance debate has gained momentum as the 2027 election approaches, with the economy, insecurity, unemployment and the rising cost of living expected to feature prominently in political campaigns.
President Tinubu is preparing to seek a second term, while several opposition figures and parties are working to build a strong challenge to the APC.
The outcome of the Abuja meeting could therefore shape further discussions on whether the opposition can form a broad political alliance capable of presenting a serious challenge to the ruling party in the 2027 presidential election.
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