The opposition will today, Monday, converge on Abuja for a summit aimed at forging a common political front and exploring strategies to defeat President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 presidential election.

The summit, organised by the political pressure group G-100, will focus on possible cooperation among opposition parties amid disagreements over alliance arrangements and the emergence of a consensus presidential candidate.

The Social Democratic Party and the Peoples Redemption Party have confirmed their participation, while the Peoples Democratic Party has ruled itself out of the gathering.

The G-100, led by former Director-General of the Progressives Governors Forum, Salihu Lukman, has argued that a fragmented opposition would struggle to dislodge an incumbent party with significant organisational and financial advantages.

In a statement on Sunday, the group urged opposition parties to set aside their differences and approach the summit with a willingness to cooperate.

The group said, “Tomorrow’s summit comes at an important moment for Nigeria’s democracy. Across the country, millions of Nigerians are looking to the opposition not merely to criticise the government of the day, but to demonstrate the maturity, discipline and sense of national purpose required to offer a credible alternative.”

The G-100 acknowledged that the participating parties have different histories, structures and presidential ambitions but maintained that such differences should not prevent them from working together where their interests converge.

It said cooperation would not require any party or political leader to surrender its identity or ambition.

“Cooperation does not require any party to surrender these. Nor does it require political leaders to abandon their aspirations. It simply requires the wisdom to recognise that there are moments when what unites us must become more important than what separates us,” the group stated.

According to the group, previous elections have demonstrated the risks associated with an opposition divided among several candidates, as fragmentation could enable an incumbent to retain power despite widespread dissatisfaction.

“The experience of elections in Nigeria and elsewhere has repeatedly demonstrated that a divided opposition often strengthens the incumbent,” it said.

“Division is a choice. Cooperation must now become a strategy.”

The SDP confirmed that its presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, and members of its national leadership would attend the summit.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, said the SDP remained committed to working with political groups seeking an alternative political direction for Nigeria.

“The SDP is very much part of the G-100 initiative and is occupying a frontline position in the scheme of things of the national rescue movement,” Aiyenigba said.

He added that the summit would provide an opportunity for opposition parties to explore practical areas of cooperation and coordination ahead of the 2027 elections.

The PRP also confirmed its participation, with its National Publicity Secretary, Bello Ishaq, telling The PUNCH in a telephone conversation that, “We are attending.”

However, the PDP said it was neither involved in nor aware of the planned summit and ruled out participating in opposition alliance discussions outside its own structures.

The position was conveyed by the spokesman of the party’s National Caretaker Committee, Jungudo Mohammed.

“The PDP is not aware of any gathering in the name of opposition summit,” Mohammed said.

“We are also not in any planned arrangement with any political party for any possible alliance. Any opposition discussion where the PDP is not party to is dead on arrival.”

Despite the PDP’s position, the G-100 said the summit was not designed to force participating parties to abandon their identities or presidential ambitions.

It said its immediate objective was to establish mechanisms for dialogue, coordination and cooperation while respecting the identities and structures of participating parties.

The group urged participants to approach the discussions in good faith and with the broader interests of Nigeria in mind.

“There will be disagreements, competing ambitions and difficult conversations. These are natural in politics. But none should prevent us from recognising the greater danger of allowing our differences to deny Nigerians a credible alternative,” it said.

The G-100 also cautioned against turning the summit into another contest for influence among opposition politicians.

“Monday is not about declaring winners or losers within the opposition. It is about beginning the work of ensuring that Nigerian democracy wins,” the group said.

The push for opposition cooperation comes as political parties and prominent politicians intensify preparations for the 2027 presidential election, with President Tinubu seeking a second term.

The possibility of presenting a single opposition candidate has generated considerable debate, but differences over presidential ambitions, party structures and the terms of any proposed alliance remain major obstacles.

Some presidential aspirants within the emerging opposition coalition are also expected to resist pressure to withdraw from the race in favour of a consensus candidate.

The G-100’s latest appeal is therefore aimed at moving the opposition unity debate beyond rhetoric and towards a practical framework for cooperation.

“As we gather on Monday at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, the G-100 urges every opposition leader to remember the millions of Nigerians whose hopes extend beyond the fortunes of any single party or politician.

“History has presented the opposition with an opportunity. We must be wise enough not to waste it,” the group said.