Opposition will front a single candidate against Tinubu, announcement will be made few days to election – Lukman

The convener of the G100 political pressure group, Salihu Lukman, has said opposition parties may announce a consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 general election just days before the polls.

Lukman disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Hard Copy, saying efforts to unite the opposition had progressed beyond the six political parties initially involved in the initiative.

The former National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress said the participating parties and their presidential candidates had taken ownership of the process and were now leading discussions on how to build trust and reach an agreement.

“I can tell you categorically, and my confidence about that comes from what I see in the leadership of the parties: they are committed and they are working, taking all the steps necessary,” he said.

Lukman explained that an agreement could emerge at different stages of the election campaign, including a few days before voting.

“So it could be two months, some weeks to the election, or a few days to the election; they will come out and tell Nigerians this is the direction, and everybody will queue,” he said.

He added that the discussions were being expanded to accommodate other political parties, as the participating groups sought a common position ahead of the election.

According to Lukman, the process had moved beyond the G100 group after political parties and their candidates assumed responsibility for negotiations.

He said the proposed collegiate arrangement was designed to ensure that decisions were made by the parties and their candidates, with representatives authorised to negotiate on their behalf.

“The collegiate is basically about ensuring that both the parties and their candidates are the ones taking the decisions, and at the same time the people doing the work are people who have the mandate of both the parties and the candidates, not anybody from outside,” he explained.

Lukman warns against rigid positions

Addressing concerns about supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, the African Democratic Congress candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and the Kwankwasiyya movement maintaining their separate political structures, Lukman warned that an unwillingness to compromise could undermine the opposition’s chances.

He argued that taking a rigid position in the negotiations could ultimately benefit the ruling APC and President Bola Tinubu.

“Taking a hardline position, a rigid position, is almost like working for the APC and the Tinubu government at this point,” he said.

Lukman also cited recent comments by Catholic cleric Cardinal John Onaiyekan on Channels Television, arguing that opposition candidates could not divide their support among several contenders and expect one of them to defeat the ruling party.

“The arithmetic is simple: you can’t split votes five ways and expect victory in one of you,” he added.

His remarks highlight the continuing efforts among opposition figures to explore cooperation and a possible common presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.

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