The All Progressives Congress has said it is unfazed by the decision of opposition leaders to field a single presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections to dislodge the ruling party.
Speaking with Sunday Horizon News, the National Secretary of the APC, Ajibola Basiru, said opposition parties were free to explore coalition talks.
He, however, said they had yet to resolve fundamental disagreements, including which party would produce the joint candidate.
Leaders of the opposition parties on Saturday converged on Ibadan, Oyo State, for the National Summit of Opposition Political Leaders and agreed to present one presidential candidate for the election.
The agreement was part of nine resolutions contained in a communique read by the opposition leaders at the end of the summit.
In the communiqué, titled the ‘Ibadan Declaration,’ the opposition said the move was necessary to “rescue the nation and suffering masses,” while warning against what it described as attempts by the APC to entrench a one-party state.
The event was attended by key opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi; former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; and former governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed.
Also at the event were the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso; former Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu; former minister Rauf Aregbesola, former governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, and Prof. Pat Utomi.
It also featured former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal; co-convener of the summit, Professor Jerry Gana; former APC Chairman, Chief John Oyegun; former Sokoto State governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal; former minister Bolaji Abdullahi; former Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, among others.
The opposition leaders, mainly from a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party and the African Democratic Congress, stressed the need to set aside their differences and build a unified platform to challenge the APC in 2027.
Reading the communique on behalf of the opposition parties, the factional National Chairman of the PDP, Taminu Turaki, reaffirmed their commitment to participate fully in the 2027 elections despite what they termed sustained political pressure and “onslaught” from the ruling party aimed at limiting opposition space.
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