G-100 talks on single opposition candidate meet resistance from Atiku, Obi and Makinde camps
Efforts by the G-100 to agree a consensus presidential candidate before 2027 have run into resistance from the camps of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM).
Ambassador Umanu Elijah, a G-100 member, told The PUNCH he still expected consultations to produce a name by 30 September. The three leading camps have not said they will stand down. They continue to present themselves as viable, which leaves a single-ticket plan uncertain. The African Action Congress (AAC), the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), the APM and the Action Democratic Party (ADP) have also rejected the idea that their candidates should step aside.
The G-100 Alliance Summit at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja brought six opposition parties together to discuss cooperation against the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu. Elijah called the process gradual: no candidate has been adopted yet, but that remains the goal. He pointed to Obi’s visit to Makinde as the kind of conversation the group wants.
Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, declined comment. An ally said Atiku is not against an alliance, that the ADC already is that coalition, and that he will still contest while staying open to talks. APM publicity secretary Abubakar Yusuf said Makinde is running to win, not to make up the numbers, and asked why he could not himself be the consensus choice. NDC publicity secretary Osa Director said the party would join single-candidate talks but believes Obi is among the strongest and could emerge as that choice.
AAC candidate Omoyele Sowore rejected a single name without a shared ideology and programme, calling it an elite swap of occupants. He would not step down merely because politicians had agreed a ticket. DLA campaign spokesperson Tosin Odeyemi said the same.
Young Progressives Party candidate Peter Agada said he might consider it if it were built on ideology and a plan to push power and the micro-economy to the wards. ADP chairman Yabbagi Sani said his party would not withdraw its candidate and would rather welcome others who step down for the ADP.
The pattern is consistent. Almost every camp is “open to dialogue” on the condition that dialogue ends with its own flag bearer. A September 30 deadline does not remove that condition. Until someone actually leaves the field, G-100 is a meeting schedule, not a ticket.
