Nigerian Opposition Parties Open Talks on Single 2027 Candidate

Nigerian opposition parties have started discussions on fielding a single candidate for the 2027 presidential election, according to The Guardian Nigeria News. The talks come as a faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has publicly disowned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

The Guardian Nigeria News reports that the opposition is exploring a consensus candidate to present a united front. The move follows warnings from former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke, who told Channels Television that a divided opposition could lose to President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

TheCable reports that the ADC, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the National Democratic Coalition (NDC) have proposed a four-year "government of national competence" ahead of the election. Vanguard News adds that the G-100 group of opposition parties is offering a four-year single term as part of a strategy to stop Tinubu.

According to The Nation Newspaper, committees have been given 30 days to submit a framework for selecting a consensus candidate. The framework is expected to outline how the parties will agree on a single flagbearer.

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The opposition's push for unity comes amid internal disagreements, with the ADC faction's rejection of Atiku highlighting the challenges of building a coalition. The talks represent an attempt to consolidate support against the ruling party.

What to watch next: Whether the committees meet the 30-day deadline and which candidate emerges as the consensus choice.