Blueprint.ng Correspondents in Ibadan captures that the essence of the summit held in Ibadan by 14 opposition parties last weekend was to strengthen their front and forge a common agenda against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
As preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum, the nation’s political atmosphere has become more tensed as Ibadan, the Oyo state capital on Saturday, played host to leaders of 14 political parties in an alliance aimed at strengthening the opposition against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Theme of summit
The Ibadan event was a national summit themed: “That We May Work Together for a United Opposition to Sustain Our Democracy.” The event held at the Banquet hall, Government House, Ibadan.
Expectedly, in a political setting, the banquet hall was filled with notable political figures in the opposition from the nooks and crannies of the country. The deliberation centered on the way forward and the future of partisan politics and its actors ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly the presidential election.
In attendance were by former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Senator David Mark, Mr Peter Obi, Prof Pat Utomi, Hon Rotimi Amaechi, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Barrister Taminu Turaki (SAN), Prof Jerry Gana, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, among others. The event kicked off at 12.53 with the host Governor Seyi Makinde welcoming guests at the summit.
The concerns
In his address, Makinde stressed that the national summit should not be seen as “a gang-up against one man; not about individual ambitions to be president, Governor Makinde continued, “it is about the collective ambition of the Nigerian people to have a democracy properly defined.
“Across Nigeria today, we are witnessing a level of political concentration that should concern all of us. A significant majority of state governments are aligned under one party. There are open efforts to consolidate legislative control under one party.
“At the same time, opposition parties are increasingly entangled in internal crises and legal battles that raise serious questions about their ability to function effectively.”
Makinde emphasised, “Taken individually, each of these may have its own explanation. But taken together, they point to a pattern where the space for real political competition is disappearing. This is not something we should treat lightly. Because democracy is not destroyed overnight, it is weakened step by step until people begin to feel it no longer works for them.
“Whether one agrees with this concern or not, it is no longer something we can dismiss. Because when opposition becomes ineffective, democracy itself begins to lose meaning.
“We must be clear about what this means. Democracy is not defined by the success of one party. It is defined by the existence of real alternatives, by the ability of citizens to choose, and by the confidence that those choices matter.Once that disappears, what we have may still be called democracy, but it will no longer function as one.”
Ibadan replicating historical roles
Harping on the importance of the national summit, Governor Makinde said, “That this discussion is happening here in Ibadan, is not by accident. Ibadan has always served as the political capital of southwest Nigeria. Back in 1950, this city, hosted a conversation that helped shape Nigeria’s constitutional future. Those discussions were not perfect, but they were necessary.
“They were driven by a recognition that the structure of a nation must be deliberately built, protected, and, when necessary, debated.
In many ways, this gathering we are having here today, carries that same responsibility.
“Let me also be clear about what this meeting is not. It is not a gang-up against one man; and it is not about individual ambitions to be president. It is about the collective ambition of the Nigerian people to have a democracy properly defined.
“This is a gathering about something more fundamental, the survival of a system that allows Nigeria to remain open,competitive, and accountable. Because democracy without opposition is not democracy, it is a slow drift toward a one -party state.And Nigeria must not make that drift.
According to the Oyo state governor, “The truth is simple. No matter how strong any party becomes, no matter how popular any government may appear, the presence of credible opposition is not a threat to democracy, it is what sustains democracy. If we allow opposition to weaken, whether by design or by neglect, then we all bear the consequences.
“So, this is not a moment for fragmentation. It is not a moment for silence. And it is certainly not a moment to disengage politically.It is a moment to think clearly, to speak honestly, and to act with a sense of responsibility that goes beyond party lines.
“Nigeria has come too far to pretend that this does not matter. And the responsibility to ensure that it does not go further than it should belongs to all of us.”
Phobia for one-party system
Speaking at the summit, National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, raised the alarm of alleged calculated attempt by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to dismantle multi-party democracy and impose a one-party system on Nigeria, saying the threat to Nigeria’s democratic plurality is no longer a rumour, but a deliberate agenda.
Alleging that the APC has spent the last three years systematically working to weaken opposition voices, Senator Mark said the move to consolidate absolute power would be resisted.
He said, “The move to turn Nigeria into a one-party country is real. But it will not happen. This contest is no longer just between political parties; it is a contest between the APC and the people of Nigeria.The opposition stands firmly on the side of the people.”
On the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the ADC National Chairman stressed that the commission appeared set to preside over kangaroo elections designed to favour the status quo.
Opposition to field single candidate
Factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),Tanimu Turaki (SAN), while speaking hinted that opposition political parties in Nigeria have agreed to field a single presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, and that the move was aimed at strengthening the opposition’s chances at the 2027 polls, despite what he described as alleged attempts to ensure President Bola Tinubu emerges unopposed within the ruling party.
According to Turaki, the opposition was determined to work together to resist the alleged “onslaughts and machinations” allegedly aimed at positioning Tinubu as the sole candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
“Despite the onslaughts and machinations of the ruling party, the APC, to ensure that President Bola Tinubu emerges as the sole presidential candidate in 2027, we shall field candidates and contest the 2027 presidential and other elections.
“Opposition parties had resolved to work together to present a single presidential candidate for the election.Three, that we shall work towards fielding one presidential candidate for the 2027 elections. It shall be agreed and supported by all participating opposition parties to rescue our nation and our long-suffering masses,”
The summit also witnessed plenary sessions/presentation of keynote addresses on Challenges of Sustainable Democracy and Good Governance in Nigeria, Ensuring free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria, “The tragedy of Wide Spread Insecurity in Nigeria: Towards the Restoration of Peace and Security”, “Building a Productive, Dynamic and Efficient National Economy for Nigeria: Which way forward.”
Communique
At the end of the summit,
the opposition political parties in a communique emphasised the need for urgent, collective action to rescue Nigeria and the destiny of over 200 million compatriots.
The communique read: “Participating opposition parties in Nigeria, after an extensive deliberation on the collective threats that we face and the existential challenges facing our country under the stranglehold of the oppressive and anti-democratic All Progressives Congress (APC) and given the need for urgent, collective action to rescue our nation and the destiny of over 200 million compatriots, hereby resolve as follows:
“That we shall resist all machinations by the APC to foist a one-party State on Nigeria and fight for the survival of multi-party democracy in our country.
“That despite the onslaughts and manoeuvrings of the ruling party, the APC to impose President Bola Tinubu as the sole Presidential candidate in 2027; we shall field candidates and contest the 2027 Presidential and other elections.
“That we shall work towards fielding one Presidential Candidate for the 2027 elections, which shall be agreed and supported by all participating opposition parties to rescue our nation and her long suffering masses.
“That the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, having shown bias and partisanship in favour of the ruling APC, should not conduct the 2027 general elections as Nigerians across board have lost confidence in him and his capacity to guarantee the required neutrality to deliver free, fair, transparent and credible elections. His continuous stay in office is vexatious and capable of triggering wide spread crisis in our nation.
“That the National Assembly should immediately review the Electoral Act, 2026 to remove all sections that threaten the sanctity and integrity of the elections and run counter to constitutional provisions.
“That all leading politicians that are being detained or harassed on bailable offfences be released with immediate effect and allowed to exercise their fundamental rights of participation and inclusivity as Nigerians.
“That we consider the recent guidelines released by the INEC as obstacles, deliberately engineered to impose conditions and deadlines on the opposition parties. We therefore demand that INEC extends the deadline for primaries till the end of July, 2026.
“The summit commends Nigerians for their resilience and readiness to work with opposition parties to free our nation from State capture.
“The national summit of opposition political parties thank the Oyo state governor, Engineer Makinde and the people of Oyo state for hosting the epochal event.”
Going by the submissions of the political party leaders at the Ibadan national summit, political analysts observed that politicians in the country and Nigerians in general have become lovers of democracy but are yet to arrive at a better approach to sustain it and make the masses enjoy real dividends thereof.