Atiku, Obi, others’ summit shifted to August 31
August 15, 2026 12:40 am
FILE: Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar and Rabiu Kwankwaso
The proposed summit of opposition political parties convened by the G-100 has been shifted from August 18 to August 31, 2026, to allow participating parties to hold further consultations after the National Peace Summit.
The group is urging former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, who are the presidential candidates of the African Democratic Congress and the Nigeria Democratic Congress respectively, as well as other political parties to forge a united front and present a single presidential candidate to confront President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 election.
According to the group, a fragmented opposition stands no chance of defeating Tinubu in next year’s election.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by ex-chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Salihu Lukman, the group said the decision followed consultations with the six participating opposition parties and members of the minority caucus of the House of Representatives.
According to the group, the participating parties and lawmakers agreed that the opposition summit would be more productive if held after the National Peace Summit slated for August 18.
The G-100 noted that the intervening period would also provide additional time to refine proposals and frameworks to be presented at the August 31 meeting.
According to the group, its consultations over the past several days with the leadership and principal stakeholders of the six opposition parties, as well as members of the House minority caucus, have been “frank, substantive and encouraging.”
The statement read in part, “We have been particularly encouraged by the seriousness with which the parties have approached these conversations and by the energy behind the deliberations.
“There is a clear recognition across the different parties that this is an important moment for Nigeria’s democracy and that the opposition must begin to engage one another with greater purpose and structure.”
The G-100 said the consultations had also exposed differences among the parties but stressed that those differences had not prevented discussions on possible areas of cooperation.
“What we have enjoyed most about these consultations is their candour. There are differences, as there should be, but there is also a genuine willingness to listen, to interrogate the available options and to explore practical areas of cooperation,” the statement further read.
The group added that the quality of the discussions had strengthened its confidence that the August 31 summit could produce significant outcomes.
“The quality of the conversations gives us confidence that the August 31 Summit can be both substantive and consequential,” it said.
The rescheduling comes at a time opposition parties are under increasing pressure to clarify their political direction ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The proposed summit is expected to provide a platform for the parties to examine possible areas of collaboration and develop a more structured approach to opposition politics.
Meanwhile, rather than rushing into the summit, the G-100 said it would use the additional period to deepen discussions with the participating parties and other relevant stakeholders.
The group said further details on the programme and venue of the summit would be announced later.
Dirisu Yakubu is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience covering parliament, politics, and development issues. He specializes in reporting that provides context and insight into legislative and governance matters. Dirisu’s work reflects extensive newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate and impactful journalism.
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