In a historic shift for Nigeria’s political landscape, fourteen opposition parties have officially resolved to field a single consensus candidate to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
Termed the “Ibadan Declaration,” the decision was reached during a high-stakes national summit held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in the Oyo State capital. The coalition, which includes the PDP, LP, NNPP, and ADC among others, characterized the move as an “existential necessity” to prevent the emergence of a one-party state and rescue the nation from what they described as the APC’s economic and political stranglehold.
Reading the communiqué on behalf of the gathered chairmen, PDP National Chairman, Taminu Turaki (SAN), emphasized that the unified front is the only viable path to electoral victory.
The bloc explicitly accused the ruling party of maneuvering to position President Bola Tinubu as a sole candidate for the upcoming polls, vowing to dismantle such efforts through a singular, agreed-upon ticket. “We shall work towards fielding one presidential candidate, supported by all participating opposition parties to rescue our nation and her long-suffering masses,” the statement declared.
Beyond the alliance, the summit launched a scathing offensive against the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The parties passed a formal vote of no confidence in INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, accusing him of blatant partisanship toward the APC.
The declaration warned that Amupitan’s continued presence in office is “vexatious” and could potentially trigger a national crisis, demanding his immediate replacement by a neutral figure to ensure the 2027 process remains credible.
The coalition further outlined a series of legislative demands aimed at “leveling the playing field” before the election cycle begins. They called on the National Assembly to immediately strip the Electoral Act 2026 of clauses that allegedly threaten the sanctity of the vote.
Additionally, the parties slammed recent INEC guidelines as “engineered obstacles,” demanding that the deadline for party primaries be extended to the end of July 2026 to allow the coalition sufficient time to consolidate its joint platform.
Closing the summit, the opposition leaders condemned the alleged harassment of political figures, calling for the immediate release of those detained on bailable offenses. They commended the resilience of Nigerians against “state capture” and expressed gratitude to the host, Governor Seyi Makinde, for providing the backdrop for what they described as an epochal event.
The “Ibadan Declaration” marks a definitive end to the fragmented opposition of previous cycles, setting the stage for a high-intensity, two-horse race in 2027.
