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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Six major opposition parties have resolved to set up committee to come up with a framework for a consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 general election within four weeks.
The parties, which include African Democratic Congress ( ADC), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Allied Peoples Movement ( APM), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Peoples Redemption Party ( PRP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stated this in a communique issued at a end of a summit of opposition parties, on Monday, in Abuja.
The Summit, which was facilitated by the G- 100, a group of opposition politicians pushing for the six parties to present a single presidential candidate in the 2027 general election, was attended by the leadership of the six parties.
Also, in attendance were the SDP Presidential Candidate, Adewale Adebayo and his PRP counterpart, Donald Duke, as well as members of the Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives.
The parties also resolved to set up four other working groups to draft a National Covenant for Democratic Renewal, Single-Term Transition Charter, National Reform Programme and Framework for Opposition Unity all within four weeks.
The report of all the working groups are to be considered at the next Summit of the opposition political parties to be held on a latter date.
Furthermore, the opposition parties also agreed to establish Central Leadership Committee, to provide overall political direction and coordination of the cooperation process, and to serve as the final arbiter on matters referred to it by the Working Groups; a Publicity and Communication Committee and Legal Committee.
The communique noted, “We agree, as National Chairmen and principal leaders of our respective parties, to commit to a structured process of negotiation on the
framework for opposition cooperation ahead of the 2027 general election.
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“This commitment reflects our shared recognition that the challenges confronting our nation, insecurity, the rising cost of living, and the scarcity of jobs and opportunity for our citizens, demand a level of political cooperation that transcends the narrow interests of any single party.”
According to the opposition parties, “We recognize that the success of this process ultimately rests on questions that only the leaders of the respective parties can answer: how far each party is prepared to go in the cooperation; what its hardlines are; and whether it will support a framework that for opposition cooperation through a process it regards as fair.
“We place these questions formally before ourselves as party leaders, and record at this Summit, the beginning of candid answers to them, answers to be deepened and clarified through the negotiation process ahead.”
Furthermore, the opposition coalition also called the United States ( US) to release relevant document relating to President Bola Tinubu that is in the interest of the Nigerian people. It added that it would communicate its position to the ECOWAS Commission.
“We further resolve that transparency concerning persons entrusted with the highest offices of the Republic is indispensable to democratic legitimacy and public confidence.
Accordingly, the G100 calls upon the Government of the United States of America, acting through its appropriate authorities and consistently with applicable law and existing judicial processes, to ensure the timely processing and lawful disclosure of
all non-exempt official records concerning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that bear legitimate public interest for the Nigerian people.
“We note the ongoing Freedom of Information Act proceedings before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and maintain that Nigerians are entitled to the fullest clarity that the law permits on matters touching upon the integrity and credibility of the Presidency.
“This demand does not presume the contents of any undisclosed record or constitute a finding of wrongdoing.
“The G100 shall consequently communicate this position formally to the ECOWAS Commission and appropriate Community institutions, requesting their diplomatic and institutional engagement in support of transparency, lawful disclosure and the democratic right of citizens to informed public accountability.”
