G-100 opposition coalition sets up legal, media teams for 2027 consensus candidate talks
- The G-100 coalition has inaugurated legal and media committees to guide its search for a single 2027 presidential candidate.
- SDP national chairman Sadiq Gombe said talks with hopefuls including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Donald Duke and Adewale Adebayo are progressing.
- The coalition says it wants a credible alternative to President Bola Tinubu's APC government, citing hardship and insecurity.
An opposition coalition hoping to field one presidential candidate against President Bola Tinubu in 2027 has taken a step from talks to structure, setting up two committees to guide the plan.
The G-100 coalition inaugurated its Legal Committee and its Media and Publicity Committee on Wednesday in Abuja. The group includes the Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
Speaking at the event, SDP national chairman Sadiq Gombe said party leaders are in direct talks with presidential hopefuls. Those under consideration include Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Donald Duke and Adewale Adebayo.
Gombe said major breakthroughs are expected before the end of the year. "Our ambition is to present a candidate that can defeat APC and form the next government," he said, adding that responses so far had encouraged the coalition.
What the committees will do
The Legal Committee, made up of the parties' national legal advisers, will study the constitution, electoral laws and Supreme Court rulings. It will also review pending court cases and the actions of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and look for legal risks in any agreement the parties sign.
Gombe warned that a single overlooked clause could undo months of negotiation. "We cannot afford surprises," he said.
The Media and Publicity Committee, drawn from the parties' publicity secretaries and campaign spokespersons, will handle joint statements and public messaging, and will check with the legal team on sensitive matters.
Gombe said the coalition was responding to insecurity, rising living costs, unemployment and falling purchasing power. He argued that any decision on continuing the present administration under President Tinubu should be judged on its record and results.
He also urged the parties to put national interest above personal ambition, saying the coalition's strength would be measured by unity and credibility rather than the number of parties involved.
What happens next
Whether a single candidate emerges will depend on how the parties and the hopefuls settle their competing interests and agree on how to choose one. The two committees are expected to shape that framework while talks continue. None of the parties has announced a candidate.
