Opposition leaders under the G100 alliance are exploring a possible electoral alliance ahead of the 2027 presidential election, even as efforts to convince Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi to back a single candidate remain unresolved.
The development has opened another option for the opposition bloc, with stakeholders considering cooperation in a possible presidential run-off if they fail to agree on one candidate before the election.
Atiku is contesting the 2027 presidency on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while Obi is seeking the presidency under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The G100 had earlier pushed for the opposition parties to unite behind a common presidential candidate as part of efforts to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, consultations with Atiku and Obi have yet to produce an agreement on the single-candidate proposal.
A source familiar with the discussions said the alliance was therefore looking beyond the initial arrangement.
“Although neither Atiku nor Obi has accepted the single-candidate proposal, the dialogue remains important because the opposition may still need to work together at different stages of the election,” the source said.
According to the source, the discussions could become particularly important if the presidential contest proceeds to a second round.
Another stakeholder said the alliance’s internal projections suggested that the 2027 election could produce a closely contested outcome in which no candidate secures the constitutional requirements to win in the first round.
“The possibility of a run-off is now part of the discussions. If a single opposition candidate cannot be agreed upon before the election, the parties could still coordinate their support for one candidate in a second round,” he said.
Nigeria’s Constitution provides for a second presidential election where no candidate satisfies the constitutional requirements for victory in the first ballot.
The Electoral Act and regulations governing presidential elections also provide the framework for determining when a run-off becomes necessary.
Meanwhile, the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reaffirmed its participation in the G100 initiative.
Its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the faction remained committed to opposition cooperation.
“The PDP under Tanimu Turaki remains committed to the G100 process. We believe greater cooperation among opposition parties is necessary to provide an alternative political direction for Nigeria,” Ememobong said.
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has also maintained its involvement in the discussions.
However, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, said its presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, remained in the 2027 presidential race.
“Our party has been part of the process from the beginning. The discussions are still ongoing, and the stakeholders will make their respective positions known as the process develops,” Yusuf said.
For now, the G100 faces the challenge of reconciling competing presidential ambitions while keeping the broader opposition coalition intact.
The continuing consultations with Atiku and Obi are expected to shape whether the alliance eventually produces a single candidate or adopts a cooperation strategy for a possible 2027 presidential run-off.