Atiku campaign says opposition cooperation remains possible ahead of 2027 vote
The campaign of African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar says he remains open to talks on cooperation among opposition parties before Nigeria’s 2027 election. It says no agreement has been confirmed on a single candidate or collaboration if the contest proceeds to a presidential run-off.
Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign says the former vice-president remains open to discussions aimed at improving cooperation among Nigeria’s opposition parties ahead of the 2027 election. Phrank Shaibu, director of strategic communications for the Atiku Presidential Campaign Council, told PREMIUM TIMES that the campaign had not confirmed reports that Abubakar rejected a proposal for opposition parties to support one candidate. Shaibu also said no agreement had been confirmed on either a single presidential candidate or cooperation between opposition forces if the election reaches a run-off.
“I cannot confirm at this stage that His Excellency has rejected the proposal or that any agreement on a single candidate or run-off cooperation has been reached,” he said. He added that Abubakar “remains open to discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation among opposition forces”. Shaibu said he was checking details of a proposal linked to the G100 opposition initiative, including whether polling or electoral modelling had been presented to support its strategy.
His comments followed a Saturday PUNCH report that G100 was considering cooperation if the 2027 election went to a second round. The report said consultations involving Abubakar and Peter Obi were continuing, although neither had indicated a willingness to accept a single-candidate arrangement. PREMIUM TIMES said it had not independently obtained the research referred to in the report.
Shaibu also declined to speculate about conditional endorsements or reciprocal commitments. G100 has been pressing opposition parties to work together. A summit in Abuja on 31 August was attended by representatives of several parties and factions, which agreed to form committees and working groups on opposition unity, reform proposals and a possible common candidate.
Abubakar and Obi did not attend.
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