Presidential candidates of Nigeria’s Accord Party, African Action Congress (AAC) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) have agreed to work together to create a stronger opposition force ahead of the country’s 2027 presidential election.
The agreement was reached in Port Harcourt after Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim of Accord, Omoyele Sowore of AAC and Adewole Adebayo of SDP met to discuss Nigeria’s political future, economy and security.
The three opposition figures criticised what they described as the weakening of democratic institutions and shrinking political space in Africa’s most populous country. They said they would work towards presenting Nigerians with a joint democratic alternative.
The proposed alliance is expected to seek support across Nigeria’s diverse political, ethnic, religious and regional communities, with workers, young people, women, professionals, entrepreneurs and civil society groups among those targeted.
The leaders said details of the alliance, including its structure and presidential candidate, would be decided later, stressing that the national interest should come before individual ambitions.
They also criticised aspects of President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, particularly fuel subsidy removal and currency devaluation, which they said had contributed to higher living costs, weaker purchasing power, unemployment and economic hardship.
The opposition candidates called for stronger domestic production, investment, job creation, salary reviews and measures to reduce inflation.
On security, they advocated greater use of intelligence and technology, better-equipped security forces, community cooperation, economic opportunities and effective prosecution.
The political discussions come as Nigeria’s opposition parties and political movements begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 election, which is expected to attract significant national and international attention.
The leaders also called for the protection of Nigeria’s multi-party democratic system, arguing that meaningful opposition is essential to constitutional democracy.
Meanwhile, the Movement for Democratic Renewal (MDR) was launched in Port Harcourt for the South-South and South-East regions, with Hashim and NLC President Joe Ajaero named as co-chairs.
Speakers at the event called for greater political unity and a renewed focus on democracy, workers’ welfare and national development.
The emerging cooperation marks another attempt by opposition figures to build a broader political platform capable of competing with the ruling political establishment in Nigeria’s 2027 presidential contest.
