The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives has announced a partnership with G-100 to galvanise opposition political parties for a common front ahead of the 2027 elections.

The minority leader, Fred Agbedi (ADC-Bayelsa), said this while addressing journalists after a closed-door consultation meeting with a G-100 delegation in Abuja on Tuesday.

Mr Agbedi said that the engagement was successful, saying that it marked the “consummation” of the partnership between the G100 and the caucus. He said both groups had agreed to combine their efforts to strengthen democracy and provide Nigerians with a credible alternative ahead of the 2027 elections.

The lawmaker said that the aim was to bring opposition parties, political leaders and presidential aspirants to look beyond individual ambitions for a united arrangement capable of challenging the APC.

“We had just had a successful meeting, and in the meeting we concluded that this is the consummation of the alliance of the caucus and the G-100, fusing into one to ensure that we play an active role in enriching democracy in Nigeria.

“I want to call on all members of the opposition, no matter the party you belong to, no matter your ambition, that there is strength in unity and that the opposition should unite to ensure that we wrestle power from the APC in 2027,” he said.

Mr Agbedi said that prevailing economic and social difficulties in the country had made opposition unity more urgent.

He said political differences should not undermine the broader objective of providing an alternative government.

The leader of the delegation, Salihu Lukman, said the G100 initiative was driven by concern over the country’s political direction and the opposition’s inability to coordinate its activities. He explained that the movement was established to persuade opposition leaders and political actors to negotiate a common political arrangement ahead of the 2027 elections, rather than pursuing individual, party, or organisational interests.

“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. It is almost like a case of handing over victory to the ruling party, and then we go back to square one,” he said.

He said the G100 is prepared to facilitate whatever discussions and negotiations are needed to bring the opposition forces together ahead of the 2027 polls.

Mr Lukman announced that a summit for opposition parties and leaders initially scheduled for Tuesday has been moved to August 31. He said the postponement also gave the G100 more time to expand its consultations and bring more political actors and Nigerians into the process.

(NAN)