NDC, Others React To Push For Single Opposition Presidential Candidate

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) reacted yesterday to calls for the opposition parties to back a single candidate ahead of the next year’s presidential election.

Although both parties said the idea was welcome, the NDC said the voters will ultimately decide which party to vote for while the SDP said various political movements and initiatives are currently building around its presidential candidate and his capacity to provide leadership.

The Labour Party, on its part, said its platform already represents the strongest and most organically structured coalition capable of winning the presidency in Nigeria.

The spokespersons of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) did not respond to calls and messages from LEADERSHIP on the matter yesterday.

Opposition leaders, including Atiku Abubakar, Gov Seyi Makinde Peter Obi, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola, had met in April this year in Ibadan, Oyo State, and resolved to produce a single candidate.

But the resolution collapsed months after as each of the party leaders have since emerged presidential candidates of various opposition parties.

However, yesterday, a coalition of 100 prominent Nigerians under the banner of the G-100, called on leading opposition figures to put aside personal ambitions and unite behind a single presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

In a seven-page open letter titled, “The Doctrine of a Necessary Democratic Opposition,” dated August 2, 2026, the coalition urged the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar; the Nigeria Democratic Congress candidate, Peter Obi; former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi; former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; and other opposition leaders to negotiate the emergence of a consensus presidential flag bearer.

The letter was signed by former APC National Vice Chairman (North-West), Salihu Lukman; former House of Representatives member, Nnenna Ukeje; former Kogi State Deputy Governor, Simon Achuba; Professor Anthony Kila; and 96 other signatories.

The coalition said Nigeria’s democratic future depends on presenting Nigerians with a credible and united alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress, warning that the greatest threat facing the country is not only economic hardship but also the gradual weakening of democratic institutions caused by a fragmented opposition and the growing concentration of political power.

“There are seasons in the life of every nation when neutrality becomes a form of consent, and silence becomes an accomplice to decline. Nigeria has entered such a season,” the letter partly stated.

According to the group, the nation’s challenges extend beyond inflation, unemployment and poverty, arguing that the deeper crisis lies in a political system that rewards loyalty above competence and patronage over public service.

“We have fashioned a political order that too often rewards loyalty over merit, patronage over service, and power over accountability. We should not wonder that such a system produces poverty and misery, for a nation cannot harvest prosperity from institutions that perpetuate poverty and deprivation,” it said.

Reacting, however, the NDC has said the opposition, and not voters are fragmented, adding that electorates would vote for the political party they want within the opposition sphere.

NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, in an interview with LEADERSHIP,  said; “there is no gainsaying the fact that the opposition would be stronger if they all coalesce into one party.”

Director however said, “if the opposition is termed as fragmented, the voters, I mean the electorate who are desirous of good governance are not fragmented.

“They know the party they want to support and vote for in the 2027 general elections in order to get rid of the clueless APC government. The choice is obvious!”

On its part, SDP national publicity Secretary, Arabia Rufus Aiyenigba speaking to leadership, said it is disposed to work with any group building a broad consensus for national redemption, including the G-100 coalition of prominent Nigerians seeking to unite opposition parties ahead of 2027.

He said the SDP is aware of the coalition and would make a formal position known soon.

Aiyenigba noted that the SDP has consistently been at the forefront of efforts to deepen democracy and build a strong national platform for transformation.

He recalled that the party was part of the New Nigeria Movement in 2018 and that several political parties gravitated towards the SDP in 2023 to form a broad base.

According to him, various political movements and initiatives are currently building around the SDP, driven by support for the party’s presidential candidate and its capacity to provide leadership.

He added that many groups, organisations and individuals are currently rubbing minds with the SDP to arrive at a consensus movement for Nigeria.

“The SDP is part of any positive national platform that will lead to national redemption,” Aiyenigba said.

Also, the Labour Party has said it appreciates efforts to build broad-based collaboration among opposition forces to democratically unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, but maintains that its own platform already represents the strongest and most organically structured coalition capable of winning the presidency in Nigeria.

National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa,  in a statement issued on Sunday  said its uniqueness lies in the institutional membership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress(TUC).

According to him, this means every serving and retired civil servant across the country is naturally connected to the Labour Party family through these labour institutions, giving the party an unrivalled grassroots presence.

“ There is hardly any polling unit, ward, local government or community in Nigeria that does not have a serving or retired civil servant. No other political party, including the APC, can genuinely boast of such an extensive nationwide structure,” Asogwa said.

He added that against this backdrop, the Labour Party is calling on all individuals, groups and political movements seeking to build a formidable opposition coalition to collapse their structures into the Labour Party instead of creating new platforms or fragmented alliances.

The party further argued that it has a formidable organisational structure, an energized membership base, and a credible presidential candidate who is young, well-educated and possesses the capacity to provide the visionary leadership Nigerians seek.

“It would therefore be politically unwise to sacrifice such enormous institutional advantages on the altar of an unnecessary coalition arrangement. The task before the opposition is not to reinvent the wheel but to unite behind the most viable platform.That platform is the Labour Party,” he stated