By Oluwakemi Kindness
The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has backed the G100 Coalition’s efforts to unite opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections with a single presidential candidate.
Minority Leader, Fredrick Agbedi, on Tuesday announced the caucus’ support after a strategic meeting with a G100 delegation as part of consultations on building a common opposition platform.
Agbedi said the caucus had already begun consultations with opposition parties, presidential candidates and their nominees to build a formidable challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“When we saw the G100, it matches our position. And so this is a marriage of confidence,” Agbedi said.
He pledged that the Minority Caucus would work with G100 and participate in its technical committee established to advance the opposition-unity agenda.
Agbedi also urged opposition leaders and presidential candidates to set aside personal ambitions and work together to defeat the APC in 2027.
He said the caucus has remained engaged with the G100 initiative during the legislative recess because of its commitment to opposition unity.
Agbedi announced that an opposition summit would hold on August 31 as part of efforts to build a common front for the 2027 election.
He warned that a divided opposition could hand the APC an easy victory at the polls.
The G100 delegation leader, Salihu Lukman, said the group launched the initiative because of concerns over the fragmentation of opposition parties.
Lukman said the opposition risked repeating the outcome of the 2023 election if its leaders failed to work together.
“As opposition parties, we seem to be fragmented. And if we continue the way we are going, we are almost going to replay the 2023 scenario,” he said.
He said Nigeria could not afford another four years of APC rule, given the challenges facing the country.
Lukman disclosed that G100 had consulted leaders of six political parties — the ADC, NDC, PDP, APM, PRP and SDP.
He said the group had also met presidential candidates, running mates and national chairmen to present its proposal for a common opposition front.
According to him, the consultations have produced “very encouraging responses” from most political leaders.
He said the August 31 summit would provide the next platform for opposition leaders to advance the unity plan.
Lukman urged the Minority Caucus and other opposition stakeholders to join the initiative, stressing that G100 could not achieve its objective alone.
Former House member in the 8th and 9th assembly, Sergius Ogun also backed the call for opposition unity, saying even the weakest opposition candidate could defeat President Bola Tinubu if the parties worked together.
“The weakest of us can defeat this President (Tinubu), but it will be sweeter if we come together,” Ogun said.
He said opposition parties must speak with one voice to effectively challenge the APC and address issues affecting Nigerians.
