Political economist Professor Pat Utomi is leading a fresh round of consultations aimed at persuading Nigeria’s major opposition figures to support a single presidential candidate in the 2027 general election, as concerns grow over the risks of a divided opposition.
The initiative is being coordinated by the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE), which has commenced a series of private meetings involving leading opposition politicians, civil society figures and party stakeholders in an effort to build consensus before the presidential campaign intensifies.
Among those participating in the consultations are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), alongside other influential opposition leaders.
According to the organisers, the discussions are designed to prevent fragmentation within the opposition and reduce the likelihood of internal sabotage that could weaken efforts to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Utomi has consistently argued that Nigeria’s opposition must place national interest above individual ambition, insisting that presenting multiple strong candidates could once again split the anti-incumbent vote. Earlier attempts at forging a broad opposition alliance produced an agreement to back a single presidential candidate, but disagreements over party structures and competing ambitions later undermined the coalition.
The latest consultations are taking place behind closed doors, with organisers deliberately avoiding public negotiations while seeking common ground among the parties. Sources familiar with the process say the emphasis is on trust-building, agreeing on transparent selection mechanisms and preventing defections that could derail opposition unity.
Despite the renewed talks, significant political hurdles remain. Atiku and Obi now fly the flags of separate political parties after previous coalition efforts collapsed, while both leaders command loyal support bases and are widely regarded as formidable presidential contenders in their own right.
Analysts say the success of any unity arrangement will depend less on rhetoric than on whether opposition parties can agree on a credible process for choosing a consensus candidate without alienating their supporters.
