2027 Race Heats Up: Opposition Summit in Ibadan Sparks Fiery Political Clash

A national summit of opposition political parties held in Ibadan, Oyo State, over the weekend aimed at forging agreements ahead of the 2027 general elections, has sparked varied reactions from key political figures. While leaders from several political parties converged, Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), conspicuously declined to attend, citing a need for genuine alternatives over “recycled failures.”

Sowore, in statements shared on his official Facebook page and X account, vehemently criticized the attendees, describing them as individuals who had “held Nigeria to ransom for years, presiding over stagnation, corruption, and systemic decay.” He asserted that his party, the AAC, would not participate in any “charade designed to recycle failed political actors under the guise of ‘opposition.’” Instead, Sowore declared the AAC's commitment to presenting a “formidable, people-driven alternative, one rooted in integrity, accountability, and genuine transformation.” He emphasized the party's resolve to mobilize Nigerians behind a credible vision that rejects the “decadence and deception represented by both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and their opportunistic counterparts” in parties like the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Labour Party (LP). Sowore concluded that Nigeria requires a “complete break from the past,” not merely a “rearrangement of the same broken pieces.”

The Ibadan summit drew numerous prominent opposition leaders. Notable figures present included former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former governors Peter Obi (Anambra), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Aminu Tambuwal, Abdulfatai Ahmed, and Babangida Aliyu. Also in attendance were former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Senate President David Mark, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State (who hosted the meeting), Professor Jerry Gana, Aisha Yesufu, and Professor Pat Utomi, among others. Pat Utomi, a Professor of Political Economy and chieftain of the ADC, characterized the declaration at the summit as a “call for national liberation.” Speaking on Arise Television, Utomi stated that Ibadan was an appropriate venue for opposition politicians to commit to rescuing Nigerians in the face of “creeping fascism, pressure toward a one-party state, and the shenanigans designed to disrupt multiparty democracy.” He viewed the meeting as symbolic, demonstrating a willingness among attendees to set aside personal ambitions for the nation's benefit.

However, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) swiftly dismissed the opposition's efforts. The APC, through its Oyo State Publicity Secretary, Wasiu Sadare, declared that opposition figures like Governor Seyi Makinde, Atiku Abubakar, and David Mark were “wasting their time.” The party asserted that the current political alignments against President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections would not succeed. Sadare stated that it would be “impossible for them to catch up with a man who is several kilometers ahead of them in a marathon.” He also claimed that the polls would be “hitch-free and credible” and criticized Governor Makinde, suggesting he would be held accountable for alleged abuses of office.