Opposition stakeholders under the G100 alliance are considering a possible second round of voting in the 2027 presidential election as consultations continue with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi over a possible single opposition candidate.
Sources within the G100 told Saturday PUNCH that while discussions with Atiku and Obi were ongoing, the alliance was also examining other forms of cooperation should its push for a consensus presidential candidate fail.
The development follows recent meetings between some G100 stakeholders and the two opposition figures as the group seeks to keep them involved in its broader cooperation framework.
The G100 had initially proposed that opposition parties work towards presenting a single presidential candidate in the 2027 election. However, Atiku, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, and Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress candidate, have continued to pursue their individual presidential ambitions while supporting wider opposition cooperation.
One of the sources said the discussions were intended to keep both politicians engaged in the process, irrespective of whether they eventually accepted a single-candidate arrangement.
“Both have not shown any kind of inclination or acceptance of the single candidacy at this time. But of course, there are other plans.
“There are other reasons why these G100 opposition leaders need to continue to engage before, during and even after the election.
“The plan may include a possible run-off or other issues that may come up. So, these are the issues. These are why these meetings were convened: to bring Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi back to the table and get their commitment to the ongoing discussion,” the source said.
Another source said the possibility of a second round was being considered as part of the alliance’s contingency planning.
“The two major opposition leaders, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, seem to be less concerned about the single-candidacy plan of the G100.
“But they still need one another because the G100, from the statistics we are having and the research conducted, there may not be a straight-up easy winner. A winner may not emerge in the first round.
“So, part of the plan now is that if we cannot achieve a single candidate for the opposition leaders, in the case of a run-off, this ongoing discussion will make it quite easy for the opposition parties to queue behind one candidate and work together,” he said.
Under Section 134 of the 1999 Constitution, a second presidential election can be held where no candidate satisfies the constitutional requirements for election. INEC also states that where no candidate achieves the required geographical spread, another election is held between the candidate with the highest number of votes and another candidate who meets the relevant constitutional criteria.
The G100 held its first summit of opposition parties at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on 31 August. Representatives of the African Democratic Congress, Allied Peoples Movement, Nigeria Democratic Congress, a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, Peoples Redemption Party and Social Democratic Party attended the meeting.
Atiku, Obi and APM presidential candidate Seyi Makinde were absent from the summit. The meeting was convened to develop a framework for cooperation among opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections, with the G100 advocating a common presidential platform.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Tanimu Turaki-led PDP faction, Ini Ememobong, confirmed that the faction remained committed to the G100 initiative.
“The PDP, led by Tanimu Turaki, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, remains committed to the G100 activities.
“We have resolved that the only way to rescue Nigeria from the maladministration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC is for the opposition parties to come together. So, we are committed to that project, and we are behind it,” he said.
The APM National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, also confirmed the party’s continued participation in the discussions but said Makinde remained in the presidential race.
“Our party was there from the beginning. The conversation is ongoing, and as time goes on, I believe the other stakeholders will make some of the decisions and positions public,” Yusuf said.
The latest development comes amid continued efforts by opposition groups to establish a common platform ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Atiku and Obi have previously maintained their presidential ambitions despite calls for opposition parties to unite behind a single candidate.
Attempts to obtain comments from Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, as well as PRP National Chairman Akeem Baba-Ahmed and APM Chairman Yusuf Dantalle, were unsuccessful.
