Leaders of opposition political parties under the G100 Coalition have met with Catholic cleric, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, to discuss efforts to unite opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It was learnt that the meeting, held at Onaiyekan’s residence on Thursday, October 29, 2026, focused on the coalition’s plans to establish a common opposition platform and provide Nigerians with an alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The delegation, comprising national chairmen and national secretaries of various political parties, briefed the cardinal on its progress towards building a united opposition front.
In a statement signed by Salihu Moh. Lukman on behalf of the coalition parties, the leaders disclosed that they had concluded work on three policy documents expected to guide the proposed alliance and its activities.
The documents are the National Covenant for Democratic Renewal, the Framework for Opposition Unity and the National Reform Programme.
While the first outlines the coalition’s guiding principles, the second establishes the structure and mechanisms for cooperation among opposition parties. The third sets out the policy priorities of a government that could emerge from the proposed partnership.
The coalition said it was preparing to formally adopt the documents at its Second Summit scheduled for Monday, November 9, 2026.
Politics Nigeria reports that the summit is expected to bring together participating political parties for the public endorsement and unveiling of the documents.
During the meeting, Onaiyekan reportedly commended the opposition leaders for their efforts, stressing the importance of a strong opposition in sustaining Nigeria’s democracy.
He noted that Nigerians should have credible alternatives through which they could determine their future and choose their leaders.
The cardinal also emphasised the need for competent, honest and compassionate leadership to address the challenges confronting the country, particularly those affecting citizens’ welfare and living conditions.
The coalition leaders further briefed him on efforts to attract more political parties and establish mechanisms for resolving disagreements that could threaten the proposed alliance.
They reaffirmed their commitment to rebuilding public confidence in governance, with emphasis on citizens’ welfare, national security and trust in leadership.
The delegation also appreciated Onaiyekan’s longstanding advocacy for justice and compassion and requested his continued prayers for the success of the initiative.
According to the statement, the coalition leaders will engage other prominent Nigerians and diplomatic missions in the coming weeks to broaden support for the opposition unity project.
The meeting comes weeks after Onaiyekan expressed concern over the inability of opposition leaders to unite behind a common candidate to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Speaking earlier in October, the cardinal disclosed that he had a preferred candidate among the opposition figures but warned that personal ambitions could undermine the chances of defeating the incumbent.
He argued that multiple opposition candidates could divide votes and hand victory to the ruling party by default.
“We all know who the government is, but we don’t know what the alternative is,” he said.
Onaiyekan questioned the decision of several opposition figures to individually declare their readiness to challenge Tinubu without agreeing on a common candidate.
“Five people saying this government is not good, and each one says it’s me who will rule. They don’t know arithmetic,” he said.
He added, “If five of you are opposing one man, and you are telling all of us to scatter our votes among you, don’t you know that by simple arithmetic, the status quo will simply win by default?”
The cardinal urged opposition leaders to put aside their individual ambitions and establish a common platform capable of presenting Nigerians with a credible alternative.
“Whatever you call the names, these scattered voices should find a way of coming together to give us a viable alternative that we can vote for,” he said.
Although he admitted having a preferred opposition candidate, Onaiyekan maintained that individual preferences would mean little if the opposition failed to unite.