Ibadan – Nigeria’s major opposition parties have announced a formal resolution to field a single joint presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, vowing to resist what they termed the All Progressives Congress (APC) “stranglehold” on the country.
In a communique released following an extensive summit of participating opposition groups, the parties declared their intention to form a united front to prevent Nigeria from sliding into a “one-party state.”
Calls for INEC Leadership Change
The coalition took a direct aim at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), passing a vote of no confidence in the Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan. The communique accused the Chairman of “bias and partisanship” in favor of the ruling APC.
“Prof. Amupitan has lost the confidence of Nigerians across the board,” the statement read. “His continuous stay in office is vexatious and capable of triggering a widespread crisis. He should not conduct the 2027 general elections.”
The parties also rejected the recent electoral guidelines released by INEC, describing them as “deliberately engineered obstacles” designed to stifle the opposition. They specifically demanded that the commission extend the deadline for party primaries to the end of July 2026.
Electoral Act and Political Detainees
Beyond personnel changes, the opposition demanded that the National Assembly immediately review the Electoral Act 2026. They argued that certain sections of the recently passed law threaten the “sanctity and integrity” of the polls and must be stripped to align with constitutional provisions.
Addressing the current political climate, the communique called for the immediate release of leading politicians currently being detained or “harassed” on bailable offenses, framing it as a necessity for “participation and inclusivity.”
The Road to 2027
The highlight of the resolution remains the commitment to a consensus candidate. While acknowledging the APC’s alleged maneuvers to position President Bola Tinubu as a “sole candidate,” the opposition insisted they would contest all offices in 2027.
“We shall work towards fielding one presidential candidate… agreed and supported by all participating opposition parties to rescue our nation and her long-suffering masses,” the communique stated.
The coalition concluded by commending the “resilience” of the Nigerian people, urging citizens to join their efforts in freeing the nation from “state capture
