2027: Opposition leadership committee holds inaugural meeting

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Opposition political parties involved in the August 31 summit in Abuja have begun moves to translate their resolutions into a functioning coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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The Central Leadership Committee established at the summit held its inaugural meeting on Wednesday, September 16, where members agreed on operational principles intended to guide the emerging alliance.

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A statement signed by the Convener of the G-100, Salihu Lukman on Thursday, on behalf of the coalition parties, said the committee resolved that chairmanship of its meetings would rotate among the participating parties in alphabetical order.

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According to the statement, the arrangement was adopted to demonstrate the principle of equality on which the coalition was founded.

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“The central leadership agreed to operational principles that would guarantee equal opportunity and mutual respect among coalescing parties,” the statement read in part.

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The committee also reviewed the communiqué issued at the August summit and began the process of implementing its resolutions, with particular attention to the establishment of the Publicity Committee, Legal Committee and five working groups.

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The parties were directed to submit the names of their nominees to the coalition secretariat by the close of work on Friday, September 18, with the committees and working groups expected to commence operations between September 21 and 27.

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The five working groups were established at the August summit to develop proposals covering key aspects of the proposed opposition cooperation, including a framework for opposition unity, a transition arrangement, a national reform programme and a roadmap towards a common presidential candidate.

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The Central Leadership Committee further resolved to “expand the coalition to accommodate other opposition parties that have indicated interest in joining the initiative.”

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It is expected to reconvene on Wednesday, September 23, as part of efforts to sustain consultations and give institutional structure to the emerging alliance.

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The latest development follows the August 31 summit of opposition parties in Abuja, facilitated by the G-100, where participating parties agreed to work towards a framework for greater cooperation ahead of the 2027 elections.

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The summit brought together representatives of the African Democratic Congress, Allied Peoples Movement, Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Peoples Redemption Party and Social Democratic Party.

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At the summit, the G-100 had argued that the opposition needed to establish rules and structures for cooperation before addressing contentious questions around candidates and political positions.

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Lukman, who spoke on behalf of the G-100, said the initiative was not intended to dissolve participating parties or compel them to surrender their identities.

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He said the objective was to create a framework through which opposition parties could cooperate while retaining their individual structures and interests.

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The summit also proposed a Government of National Competence operating under a single four-year transition term, with the details to be developed through the working groups and subjected to further consideration by the participating parties.

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The move to establish a central leadership structure and functional committees marks a shift from the exploratory consultations that preceded the August summit to the implementation phase of the proposed coalition.

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The coalition’s ability to reconcile the interests of the participating parties, particularly over leadership, candidate selection and the terms of cooperation, is expected to shape the next phase of the process.

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The Central Leadership Committee further said it was committed to meeting regularly with the aim of strengthening cooperation among opposition parties and presenting a coordinated political front in the 2027 elections.

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