ABUJA — The push by the G-100 coalition of opposition political groups and stakeholders to produce a single presidential candidate for the 2027 general election has encountered fresh resistance, with the presidential candidates of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar; Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi; and Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, refusing to step down from the race.

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The development comes amid renewed efforts by opposition parties and political stakeholders to unite behind a common candidate capable of challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election.

The G-100 recently held an opposition summit at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja as part of efforts to build a broad political alliance and resolve the challenge of multiple presidential candidates contesting against the APC.

However, while the coalition is pushing for a consensus arrangement, the camps of Atiku, Obi and Makinde have maintained that their respective candidates remain in the race and could themselves emerge as the preferred candidate.

G-100 Sets September 30 Deadline

A member of the G-100 coalition, Umanu Elijah, told Punch that the group had yet to adopt any presidential candidate, stressing that consultations were still ongoing.

According to him, the coalition hopes to conclude discussions and arrive at a consensus candidate by September 30.

“We had our first summit recently in Abuja with the opposition political parties and their presidential candidates. It is important to note that this is a gradual process. We have not adopted a single candidate yet, but that is the goal,” Elijah said.

He added that recent meetings between opposition presidential aspirants, including Peter Obi’s meeting with Seyi Makinde, were part of the consultations being driven by the coalition.

“Meetings are going on behind the scenes, and I am sure that before the end of this month, we would have settled on a consensus candidate that we will ask other candidates and parties to support,” he added.

Atiku Will Not Step Down

An ally of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said the ADC presidential candidate remained open to discussions with other opposition leaders but would not withdraw his candidacy.

The source argued that Atiku had begun the opposition coalition process long before the emergence of the G-100 and that the process eventually resulted in the formation of the ADC platform.

According to the source, Atiku’s candidacy has already been adopted by several political stakeholders who believe he has the experience and capacity to challenge the APC in 2027.

The ally, however, maintained that Atiku would continue to engage with other political leaders and remain open to dialogue.

“But Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is going to contest the 2027 election,” the source said, adding that supporters of other political parties who believe in Atiku’s candidacy could eventually rally behind him.

NDC Backs Obi’s Chances

The NDC also indicated that it was willing to participate in discussions aimed at producing a single opposition candidate.

However, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, insisted that such discussions did not mean Peter Obi would automatically withdraw from the presidential contest.

Director described Obi as a credible and popular candidate with a strong possibility of emerging as the opposition’s consensus candidate.

“Our presidential candidate is a popular and credible candidate,” he said.

He added that the NDC was already participating in conversations surrounding a possible consensus arrangement because the party believed opposition unity was necessary.

“We are ready and are already participating in discussions about the need to have a consensus candidate or a single candidate, especially because we believe that our candidate is one of the best among all the other aspirants and has a strong chance of emerging as the consensus candidate,” he stated.

Makinde Says He Is Contesting to Win

The APM also rejected any suggestion that Seyi Makinde had agreed to step aside for another opposition candidate.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, said Makinde was contesting the 2027 presidential election with the intention of winning, rather than merely participating.

Yusuf acknowledged that discussions among opposition stakeholders were ongoing but said Makinde remained a potential consensus candidate.

“What makes you think Makinde will not be adopted as the consensus candidate?” he asked.

He stressed that the Oyo State governor and APM presidential candidate had not stepped down for anyone.

“For now, all I can tell you is that His Excellency, the Oyo State Governor and candidate of our party, is in the contest to win. He has not stepped down for anybody,” Yusuf said.

The positions of the three camps underscore the difficulty facing the G-100 as it seeks to persuade major opposition presidential aspirants to sacrifice their individual ambitions for a single candidate ahead of the 2027 election.

With the coalition targeting September 30 for an agreement, negotiations among the opposition parties are expected to intensify in the coming weeks.