By John Azu
The Tinubu Must Go (TMG), a nationwide, community-based, citizen-led movement, has fixed Thursday, September 24, for an internal consultation on the possibility of a single opposition candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
The group is appealing to the presidential candidates of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar; the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi; the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde; and the African Action Congress (AAC) to set aside their differences and work towards presenting a single opposition candidate for the election.
The convener of the group, Abba Hikima, said TMG was prepared to lead a delegation to meet with the candidates to formally present the proposal and discuss practical steps towards advancing the dialogue.
In separate letters addressed to the candidates, Hikima urged them to initiate high-level discussions aimed at finding common ground among the leading opposition forces.
“We respectfully urge Your Excellency to initiate and engage in high-level discussions with other leading opposition candidates to identify a mutually acceptable common ground,” he said.
He added that political dynamics could change rapidly as elections approach, stressing the need to keep channels of dialogue, compromise and strategic alliances open.
“Political dynamics evolve rapidly as elections approach; consequently, the door to dialogue, compromise, and strategic alliance must remain open to the very end,” Hikima said.
The group said its call was driven by what it described as worsening socioeconomic and security conditions across the country, including insecurity, rising living costs, inflation, poverty and unemployment.
It argued that the challenges facing Nigerians in different parts of the country required opposition leaders to place what it described as the national interest above individual political ambitions.
“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,” Hikima said.
He stressed that the group was not seeking to determine who should emerge as the candidate or dictate the terms of any eventual political arrangement.
“We do not presume to dictate who should lead, who should concede, or what specific power-sharing arrangement should emerge. We firmly believe those decisions are best resolved through direct, high-level dialogue among the leaders themselves,” he said.
The September 24 consultation is expected to form part of TMG’s broader effort to encourage negotiations among opposition political forces ahead of the 2027 presidential election.