September 06, (THEWILL) — A week after the G-100 political group convened a summit to unite opposition political parties to present a common presidential candidate against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election, another group has vowed to deepen the alliance talks this week and form a unified front among opposition groups to avoid splitting anti-ruling party votes.
Without a single party as a rallying platform, the G100 coalition proposed a framework of cooperation among the parties and framed their winning model of governance on a single four-year transition term.
The National Secretariat of the Movement for Credible Elections, MCE, on the other hand, has announced the commencement of the engagement process of its recently initiated political commission set up in July to rally and coalesce opposition parties and their candidates towards the actualisation of a common political front and consensus candidacy for the Nigerian opposition in the 2027 General Election.
According to the National Secretariat, MCE political commission is chaired by the Convener of the Big Tent Political Movement and one of the founding leaders of MCE, Prof Patrick Utomi, who has been mandated since July to consult with presidential candidates and their various party chieftains, while the National Secretariat has been assessing various profiles, Ideologies, electoral programmes and curriculum vitae, amongst other credentials required for the selection and endorsement of the best opposition coalition candidate and party.
According to a member of the group, Comrade James Ezema, who also doubles as the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Conference of Political Parties, NCPP, the MCE would evaluate the party profiles, ideologies and CVs of presidential candidates and running mates, shortlist seven opposition parties and presidential candidates for final engagements and endorsements, and adopt a power-sharing implementation model for the opposition coalition.
According to Ezema, the names and profiles of the shortlisted opposition political parties and their presidential candidates will be formally announced at a major press conference this week, where details about the work plan, modalities and working sub-committees of the Utomi-led Commission shall be unveiled.
Apart from Prof Pat Utomi, Chairman of the Commission, other Members of the MCE Political Commission, who are expected to hold various tactical engagements with the shortlisted presidential candidates and their parties, after their special strategy session next week, include, Hadjia Maryam Inna Ciroma, Mrs Modupe Adelaja, Comrade Solomon Dalung, Hon Uche Onyeagocha, Dr Olusegun Mayegun, Dr Sam Amadi, Dr Mike Iginni, Obongawan Barbara Etim James, Veteran Olawale Okunniyi, Dr Adum Ter Alex, among others to be co opted by the Commission.
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“However, a profound review of the Ibadan opposition summit held in April 2026 and its historic declaration has also made it mandatory for the MCE to adopt a more practical, tactical and inclusive implementation modality that requires concrete and deft power sharing negotiations and unambiguous MOU to be endorsed in November, 2026 by the coalescing political parties and their Presidential Candidates, all things being equal,” said Ezema, adding that, “again, in view of the need for inclusivity and openness in the ongoing process, the MCE shall be incorporating other concerned stakeholders, including members of the G-100 Nigerians as partners in progress toward the actualisation of opposition political consensus to adopt a common pro people and pro democracy agenda as democratic alternative programme for the Nigerian electorate in the 2027 election.”
He said that for the avoidance of doubt, the objective of MCE Intervention is to mobilise the Nigerian opposition into a common ideological programme and credible candidacy to save democracy and the country from looming anarchy. It’s therefore by no means an attempt to impose a candidate or dictate electoral outcomes, but to encourage an electoral balance of forces and to enable opposition forces and stakeholders to explore areas of convergence in the interest of the nation and its largely impoverished population, particularly where such opposition cooperation could strengthen electoral competitiveness and democratic balance and stability in Nigeria.
In the same vein, as part of efforts to strengthen democracy, deepen citizen participation and increase safeguards against the erosion of democratic values and the descent of democratic governance into authoritarianism or absolute rule, the Movement has concluded plans to hold a crucial leadership retreat for its Members, allies, and volunteers.
The engagement will bring together MCE Leaders, volunteers and associates in a formal organisational engagement aimed at ensuring that forces of the Movement are properly engaged, briefed and assigned respective roles as the organisation intensifies preparations to make the people’s votes count in the 2027 elections as MCE believes that democracy is best protected when citizens have genuine choices, institutions are credible, political competition exists, and the electoral process is sufficiently robust to reflect the will of the people.
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