A call has gone out to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi; Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde and Omoyele Sowore to unite and negotiate a single opposition presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 polls.
The Tinubu Must Go (TMG) movement made this call in a letter addressed to the four opposition figures, urging them to set aside individual political ambitions and engage in what it described as “high-level dialogue” to produce a consensus candidate capable of challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The appeal, the movement said, was part of efforts to build a “united opposition front” and provide Nigerians with an alternative to the current administration.
Read the letter, signed by Abba Hikima: “We write on behalf of the Tinubu Must Go nationwide community, a citizen-led movement bringing together Nigerians across diverse political persuasions who have chosen to set aside partisan and individual preferences to advance a single, imperative objective: encouraging a united opposition front to offer Nigerians a viable, credible alternative to the current administration”.
TMG based its call on what it described as Nigeria’s worsening security and socio-economic conditions under the Tinubu administration.
The movement cited a recent report by SBM Intelligence, which recorded 7,825 people abducted and at least 1,142 killed in Nigeria between July 2025 and June 2026.
The report, titled ‘The Capture of Nigeria’s Kidnap Economy’, recorded 1,713 kidnapping and kidnap-related incidents during the period. It also said victims and their families paid N7.78 billion in ransom.
TMG also raised concerns about inflation, food prices, energy costs, electricity and fuel tariffs, unemployment and household purchasing power.
The movement said these challenges made it necessary for opposition leaders to explore a common political platform ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Said TMG: “Our primary appeal is simple: that the leading opposition candidates meet, engage in good faith, and explore every reasonable compromise capable of producing a single, consensus presidential candidate”.
TMG, however, said it would not dictate who should emerge as the consensus candidate or determine which of the opposition leaders should withdraw from the race.
Added the movement: “We do not presume to dictate who should lead, who should concede, or what specific power-sharing arrangement should emerge”.
TMG pointed out that such decisions should be resolved through direct dialogue among the leaders.
The movement said its guiding principle was that the broader national interest should take precedence over individual political ambitions.
The call came amid ongoing efforts by several opposition groups and political coalitions to persuade leading opposition figures to unite ahead of the 2027 elections.
Abubakar is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while Obi is running on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Makinde is the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) while Sowore is the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC).
Recent reports revealed that all four camps had maintained their presidential ambitions despite calls from some opposition groups for a consensus arrangement.
TMG said it planned to conduct an internal consultation among its supporters on September 24 to gauge their preferences if the movement eventually needed to consolidate its grassroots structure behind a single political platform.
It stressed, however, that the consultation would remain secondary to any consensus voluntarily reached by the opposition candidates.
The movement also said any preference expressed by its supporters should not be interpreted as a rejection of any of the opposition leaders.
Said the group: “Every major opposition figure, along with their respective political structures and supporters, remains indispensable to this national rescue project before, during, and after the election”.
TMG further urged the eventual consensus candidate, if one emerges, to commit to an inclusive arrangement involving the other opposition leaders and their supporters.
Such an arrangement, it said, should extend beyond the election and, if successful, include the participation of the various opposition blocs in governance.
Added TMG: “Meaningful public service is not defined solely by the office of the President. Every leader has a critical role to play in the broader national project”.
The body also appealed to Messrs Abubakar, Obi, Makinde and Sowore to keep negotiations open until the election, arguing that political dynamics could change as the 2027 polls approach.
Noted TMG: “Political dynamics evolve rapidly as elections approach; consequently, the door to dialogue, compromise, and strategic alliance must remain open to the very end”.
The movement requested an opportunity for its delegation to meet with the opposition leaders to formally present the proposal and discuss practical steps towards achieving a unified opposition front.
