Election wahala2027: Atiku, Obi, Makinde resist step-down pressure

Efforts by the G-100 to produce a consensus presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 election may be facing fresh hurdles as the presidential candidates of the African Democratic Congress, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; the Nigeria Democratic Congress, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi; and the Allied Peoples’ Movement, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, have maintained their presidential ambitions. A member of the G-100, a coalition of political groups and stakeholders advocating a united opposition front, Ambassador Umanu Elijah, however, expressed confidence that consultations would be concluded and an agreement reached on a consensus candidate by September 30. The push appears to have met resistance from the camps of Atiku, Obi and Makinde, with none of the three indicating that he is prepared to withdraw from the race in favour of another aspirant. Rather, they have continued to project themselves as viable candidates, fuelling uncertainty over the possibility of a single-ticket arrangement. Meanwhile, the African Action Congress, DLA, Allied Peoples’ Movement and Action Democratic Party, among others, have rejected suggestions that their presidential candidates would step down for another aspirant. The development has further complicated efforts to achieve a broad opposition consensus, with the parties insisting on retaining their candidates ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The opposition leaders, in their bid to foster unity among stakeholders ahead of the 2027 elections, recently convened at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja for the G-100 Alliance Summit. The meeting brought together representatives of six opposition political parties to discuss possible areas of cooperation ahead of the general elections