By Opeyemi Adelakun
Nigeria’s opposition landscape may be heading for a major realignment ahead of the 2027 presidential election as the presidential candidates of the Accord Party, African Action Congress and Social Democratic Party agree to work towards a common political platform.
Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim of the Accord Party, Omoyele Sowore of the AAC and Adewole Adebayo of the SDP reached the agreement at a meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where they reviewed the state of the country’s democracy, economy and security.
The meeting produced a commitment to pursue a joint democratic alternative, although the three politicians said the structure of the proposed alliance, its operating modalities and its presidential candidate would be determined through further consultations.
The development could add another layer to the growing efforts by opposition politicians to build a formidable platform ahead of the 2027 poll.
The candidates criticised what they described as the growing concentration of political power, weakening of democratic institutions and shrinking room for genuine political competition.
They warned against a situation in which elections become predetermined contests rather than opportunities for Nigerians to choose between competing political programmes.
The leaders said the proposed alliance would seek to bring together workers, youths, women, professionals, entrepreneurs, civil society organisations and Nigerians across ethnic, religious, regional and political divides.
“The larger national interest must take precedence over individual political ambitions,” they declared.
Candidates Demand Review of Political Detention Cases
The three opposition figures also called for an immediate review of cases involving Nigerians detained or imprisoned over political expression, self-determination advocacy or what they described as the peaceful exercise of constitutionally protected rights.
They specifically demanded the release of Nnamdi Kanu and Bichia Maisango, while also calling for an end to what they described as the legal and political persecution of Sowore over his political activities.
The politicians, however, stressed that their position should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the views or methods of the individuals concerned.
“Democratic societies must accommodate dissent and peaceful disagreement,” they said.
They further urged international democracy and human-rights organisations, regional institutions and democratic governments to monitor Nigeria’s democratic trajectory.
The opposition leaders alleged that individuals within the security, electoral, judicial, legislative and executive structures could undermine opposition parties and manipulate public institutions to frustrate political competition.
While rejecting foreign interference in Nigeria’s affairs, they demanded accountability for public officials or institutions found to have abused their authority in ways that undermine constitutional democracy.
They also called on international partners to document credible evidence of democratic reversals and consider lawful targeted measures, including visa restrictions, against individuals established to have participated in such activities.
“Nigeria’s multi-party democracy must be preserved. No individual, political party, security agency, electoral official or institution is bigger than the Nigerian Constitution,” they declared.
Opposition Faults Tinubu’s Economic Policies
The proposed alliance also criticised the economic direction of the President Bola Tinubu administration, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and currency devaluation.
The three candidates argued that the policies had contributed to rising living costs, declining purchasing power, unemployment and widespread economic hardship.
They called for urgent measures to improve workers’ earnings towards what they described as a genuine living wage, while also advocating stronger domestic production, investment, job creation and policies capable of reducing inflation.
On insecurity, the candidates demanded a proactive strategy based on intelligence, technology, better-equipped security forces, community cooperation, economic opportunities and effective prosecution.
They rejected what they described as appeasement, selective enforcement and political complicity that allow violent groups to operate with impunity.
The politicians pledged to defend the country’s multi-party system and resist political monopolisation.
“A democracy without meaningful opposition is merely an electoral ritual,” they said.
They maintained that Nigerians must retain the constitutional right to form political parties, contest elections, disagree with government and offer alternative programmes without intimidation.
On national unity, they argued that justice and inclusion should form the basis of Nigeria’s cohesion.
“Unity cannot be built by suppressing differences; it must be built by guaranteeing justice within diversity,” they said.
The proposed alliance, according to the politicians, is intended to go beyond an anti-incumbency arrangement by developing a governing alternative anchored on democratic accountability, economic justice, institutional reform, security and social inclusion.
Labour Leaders Join Democratic Renewal Push
The political discussions came alongside the launch of the Movement for Democratic Renewal in Port Harcourt, an initiative aimed at mobilising stakeholders in the South-South and South-East around what its promoters described as the need to rescue Nigeria’s democracy and restore hope to citizens.
The movement is co-chaired by Olawepo-Hashim and Nigeria Labour Congress President Joe Ajaero.
Labour leaders and representatives of industrial unions gathered at the NLC Labour House in Port Harcourt for the event.
Olawepo-Hashim, who co-chairs the movement, said Nigeria had historically possessed significant economic potential but had suffered under successive leadership.
He said, “the prosperity in Nigeria continued until 1976 and Nigeria was a lender, not a borrowing nation.”
He added, “Today, industrialisation has gone out of Nigeria.
“But we must rescue our democracy. Any democracy that abandons the welfare of the workers is a mirage.”
Also speaking, Adebayo urged Nigerian workers to become more involved in determining the country’s political direction.
“All workers must vote, because our problem is that our leaders today see themselves as colonial masters in black skin,” he said.
He stressed the importance of ideological cohesion in building an effective political movement.
“Unity is important. For people, we can only be united by ideology. You must raise cadres not for protest alone, but for government,” he said.
Ajaero, who was represented at the event by Denja Yakub, said Nigerians should not expect outsiders to solve the country’s problems.
“Nobody will fight for us. We need to fight for ourselves,” Yakub said on his behalf.
He added, “There will never be industry for us if we don’t have worker-friendly people in power.”
The event attracted NLC chairmen from Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa, Edo, Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia and Ebonyi states, as well as leaders of industrial unions and other stakeholders.
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