2027: Opposition Coalition Leadership Committee Holds Inaugural Meeting — G-100

Opposition political parties that attended the August 31 summit in Abuja have started implementing plans to build a joint platform ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the Central Leadership Committee holding its first meeting on Wednesday.

The committee, created during the summit, met on September 16 and agreed on a number of rules to guide the activities of the emerging coalition.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the Convener of the G-100, Salihu Lukman, on behalf of the parties involved in the coalition.

One of the decisions reached at the meeting was that the chairmanship of future committee meetings would rotate among the participating political parties according to alphabetical order.

The arrangement is intended to give the parties equal opportunity to lead meetings and ensure that no single party dominates the coalition.

The committee also reviewed the resolutions reached at the August 31 summit and began work on how to put them into effect.

As part of the process, the coalition is expected to establish a Publicity Committee, Legal Committee and five other working groups to handle different areas of the proposed alliance.

Participating parties have been asked to submit the names of their representatives to the coalition secretariat by the end of Friday, September 18. The committees and working groups are expected to begin their activities between September 21 and 27.

The five working groups were created to develop proposals on major areas of cooperation among the opposition parties. Their assignments include preparing a framework for opposition unity, developing a transition plan, working on a national reform programme and creating a roadmap towards the selection of a common presidential candidate.

The Central Leadership Committee also agreed to make room for additional opposition parties that have shown interest in joining the coalition.

The committee is expected to meet again on Wednesday, September 23, as consultations continue and efforts are made to give the proposed alliance a more permanent structure.

The latest development follows the August 31 opposition summit in Abuja, which was facilitated by the G-100 and brought together representatives of several political parties.

Those present included the African Democratic Congress, Allied Peoples Movement, Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Peoples Redemption Party and Social Democratic Party.

During the summit, the G-100 said opposition parties needed to first develop clear rules and structures for cooperation before resolving issues such as leadership and the choice of candidates for the 2027 election.

Lukman had also explained that the proposed coalition was not designed to dissolve the participating parties or force them to give up their separate identities.

Instead, the initiative is aimed at creating a structure that will allow the parties to work together while maintaining their individual organisations and interests.

The August summit also proposed a Government of National Competence under a single four-year transition period. Details of the proposal are expected to be developed by the working groups and considered by the participating parties.

The creation of the Central Leadership Committee and other working bodies marks a move from initial discussions towards the practical implementation of the coalition plan.

The parties will now have to work through issues involving leadership, candidate selection and the conditions under which they will cooperate.

The Central Leadership Committee said it would continue meeting regularly as the opposition groups seek to strengthen their cooperation and develop a coordinated approach ahead of the 2027 general elections.