By Onoja Baba, Nigeria
High-profile leaders from Nigeria’s major opposition parties gathered in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Saturday, for a landmark national summit aimed at forging a united front against the nation’s prevailing socio-economic and security challenges.
The event, held at the Banquet Hall of the Oyo State Government House, was chaired by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and hosted by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.
Under the theme “That We May Work Together for a United Opposition to Sustain Our Democracy,” the summit is widely seen as a strategic move to coordinate political direction ahead of future electoral cycles.
The summit saw the arrival of several political titans, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, both of whom confirmed their participation via social media. Other notable figures in attendance included former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and the 2023 Labour Party governorship candidate for Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.
The gathering also featured prominent intellectuals and policy experts. Former National Human Rights Commission chairman Chidi Odinkalu and former lawmaker Usman Bugaje were slated to address challenges to sustainable democracy, while Professor Pat Utomi and security expert Kabir Adamu were billed to discuss economic productivity and the national security crisis, respectively.
Former INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner Mike Igini was also present to deliver a paper on electoral integrity.
Organizers described the summit as a necessary response to the federation’s current hardships. Beyond the speeches, the presence of various political blocs, including the Peoples Democratic Party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party, and the African Democratic Congress, suggests a tightening of ties between previously fragmented opposition groups.
The ADC specifically noted that the summit sets the stage for a more robust and credible alternative to the current administration.
The summit was not without controversy, as the ADC spokesperson alleged via social media that the ruling All Progressives Congress had plans to disrupt the meeting.
The spokesperson claimed that after being denied venues in Abuja, the opposition coalition was determined to proceed in Ibadan despite perceived intimidation. As of press time, the APC had not officially responded to these allegations, and efforts to reach party spokesperson Felix Morka were unsuccessful.
Despite the friction, the summit marks one of the most significant gatherings of opposition leaders in recent years, signaling a potential shift in the country’s political landscape as leaders seek to build a consensus on the pa
th forward for Nigeria.
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