Onaiyekan backs united opposition ahead of 2027, G-100 coalition says
- Cardinal John Onaiyekan has urged Nigeria's opposition parties to unite ahead of the 2027 elections, the G-100 Coalition said.
- The coalition said its leaders met the cleric at his residence on October 29 and briefed him on their unity plans.
- It plans to unveil three guiding documents at a second summit on November 9, 2026.
Opposition political parties should close ranks ahead of the 2027 general elections, Cardinal John Onaiyekan has said, according to the G-100 Coalition, which met him this week.
The coalition said its leaders, including national chairmen and secretaries of some parties, visited the Catholic cleric at his residence on Thursday, October 29, and briefed him on efforts to unite the opposition behind a credible alternative to the ruling party.
The group made the meeting public in a statement on Friday signed by Salihu Lukman on behalf of its member parties.
What the cardinal said
According to the statement, Onaiyekan welcomed the initiative and said a strong opposition is vital to sustaining Nigeria's democracy.
He was quoted as expressing joy that Nigerians could have real and credible choices at the polls next year, and stressed that competent, honest and compassionate leaders are needed to tackle the country's problems.
His Eminence emphasised the role of competent, honest and sympathetic leaders in resolving the multiple problems which combines to make decent lives of our citizens difficult or impossible to sustain.
The coalition said the delegation thanked the cardinal for his long advocacy for justice and compassion and asked him to keep praying for the group's success.
Three documents, one summit
The coalition told Onaiyekan it had finished work on three documents that will guide the alliance. They are the National Covenant for Democratic Renewal, which sets out its principles; the Framework for Opposition Unity, which explains how the alliance will work; and the National Reform Programme, which lists the policy priorities of any government formed through the cooperation.
The documents are to be formally adopted, endorsed and unveiled at the coalition's second summit on Monday, November 9, 2026.
The group also said it briefed the cardinal on moves to bring more parties into the fold and on plans to settle disagreements among members.
It said its aim is to rebuild public confidence in leadership, with a focus on citizens' welfare, security and trust in government.
Coalition leaders plan to visit other prominent Nigerians and diplomatic missions in the coming weeks.
What happens next: All eyes will be on the November 9 summit, where member parties are expected to publicly back the three documents. How many parties sign up, and whether they stay together, will shape the choice Nigerians face at the 2027 polls.
