Opposition Parties Unite in Ibadan, Plan Single Presidential Candidate Against APC

By Emmanuel Kwada

Major opposition political parties in Nigeria have resolved to present a united front against what they described as the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s attempt to entrench a one-party state, declaring their determination to field a single presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

In a communiqué issued at the end of their National Summit held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Ibadan, Oyo State, the parties expressed deep concern over the existential challenges facing the country under APC rule.

Opposition leaders in Ibadan.

They pledged to resist any machinations aimed at undermining multi-party democracy and vowed to contest the 2027 presidential and other elections despite alleged manoeuvrings by the ruling party to impose President Bola Tinubu as the sole candidate.

The summit participants agreed to work towards selecting one consensus presidential candidate, backed by all participating opposition parties, with the aim of rescuing the nation and alleviating the suffering of its over 200 million citizens.

The opposition leaders also raised strong objections to the continued stay in office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, citing perceived bias in favour of the APC.

We shall resist all machinations by the APC to foist a one-party State on Nigeria.

They demanded that he should not preside over the 2027 elections, warning that his role could trigger widespread crisis due to eroded public confidence in his neutrality.

The communiqué further called on the National Assembly to immediately review the Electoral Act, 2026, to eliminate provisions that threaten the integrity of future elections and contradict constitutional requirements.

It also urged the immediate release of all leading politicians currently detained or harassed over bailable offences, emphasising the need for their full participation in the democratic process.

Additionally, the parties criticised recent INEC guidelines as deliberate obstacles to opposition activities and demanded an extension of the deadline for party primaries until the end of July 2026.

The summit commended Nigerians for their resilience and expressed readiness to collaborate with citizens to free the nation from what they termed “state capture.”

Special appreciation was extended to Oyo State Governor Engr. Seyi Makinde and the people of Oyo State for successfully hosting the event.

IBADAN DECLARATION IN DETAILS:

Communiqué issued at the end of Opposition Political Parties National Summit held on Saturday April 25, 2026 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. The Summit commends Nigerians for their resilience and readiness to work with Opposition Parties to free our nation from State capture.

9. The National summit of Opposition Political Parties thank the Oyo State Governor Engr. Seyi Makinde and the people of Oyo State for hosting the epochal event.

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