A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki has endorsed the G-100 initiative aimed at forging a broad opposition alliance to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 general elections.
The faction announced its support in a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, following the inaugural G-100 meeting held on Monday at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.
The meeting brought together representatives of six opposition parties to explore areas of cooperation and the possibility of presenting a common presidential candidate against the APC in the next general election.
The Turaki-led PDP faction said its participation was motivated by what it described as the growing economic hardship facing Nigerians under the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
Participants at the meeting agreed to commence a structured negotiation process aimed at strengthening cooperation among opposition parties ahead of the 2027 polls.
As part of the process, the parties resolved to establish standing committees and working groups tasked with developing proposals on opposition unity, a national reform programme and a roadmap for producing a common presidential candidate.
The G-100 initiative is emerging amid renewed efforts by opposition parties to consolidate their strength ahead of 2027 and avoid the division of votes that characterised the 2023 presidential election.
In the 2023 contest, major opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, contested on separate platforms, allowing the APC candidate to emerge victorious despite the strong showing by opposition parties.
However, both Atiku and Obi were absent from Monday’s G-100 meeting, leaving questions over the extent of support the initiative could attract from some of the opposition’s most prominent figures.
The absence of the two politicians was subsequently downplayed by the African Democratic Congress National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi.
Abdullahi said the meeting was primarily focused on building cooperation among political parties rather than negotiating directly with individual presidential candidates.
The G-100 process is expected to involve further consultations among opposition parties as they seek common ground on issues including political cooperation, policy priorities and the possibility of fielding a single presidential candidate in 2027.
The initiative could become a significant component of the opposition’s strategy as political activities gradually intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
