PDP, ADC, Other Blocs Dismiss Ibadan Opposition Summit, Affirms Plans To Field Independent Candidates

The Ibadan opposition summit has been rejected by factions of the Peoples Democratic Party, African Democratic Congress, Accord Party, and Labour Party, who claim it does not reflect their official position. They reiterated their intention to run independent candidates in the 2027 elections to challenge President Bola Tinubu.

The PDP National Working Committee, backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, claimed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, former Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Peter Obi (Anambra) and other opposition figures were misled by ‘’impostors’’ who organised the summit.

Also reacting, the two ADC camps of the 2023 ADC presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, led by Kingsley Ogga and Nafiu Gombe, in separate interviews with our correspondents, denied any involvement in the meeting, while the Accord Party warned that it could institute legal action against individuals or groups parading themselves as representatives of the party.

This comes as the Labour Party’s interim national chairman, Nenadi Usman, also disassociated the party from the high-profile summit in Ibadan where political leaders agreed to present a single presidential candidate in 2027.

In response, the All Progressives Congress rejected what it called attempts by opposition leaders to exert pressure through blackmail, stating that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde is unfit to hold office over his alleged inciting remarks about “Operation Wetie” during the summit.

After months of internal wrangling and with several court cases still pending, the ADC, led by David Mark, joined forces with the PDP faction aligned with Governor Makinde and other opposition parties in Ibadan, Oyo State, for an opposition summit on Saturday.

Addressing participants as the chief host, Makinde cautioned the Federal Government against suppressing the political will of Nigerians, recalling that the historic ‘Operation We tie’ crisis began in Ibadan.

‘Operation We Tie’ was a violent political uprising that took place in Western Nigeria in 1965. It stemmed from a 1962 power struggle within the ruling Action Group party between Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, which later escalated following the disputed 1965 elections

In a communique issued after the meeting, the opposition leaders warned the APC-led federal government against turning Nigeria into a one-party state, vowing to resist such moves. They announced plans to present a joint presidential candidate against the ruling party in the 2027 election.

Party chairmen who allegedly signed the communique were Mark of the ADC; Tanimu Turaki (SAN) of the PDP, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed of the Peoples Redemption Party; Ajuji Ahmed of the New Nigeria Peoples Party; Cleopas Moses of the National Democratic Coalition; Uche Nnadi of the Action Peoples Party and Mgbudem Maxwell of Accord.

Others included Yusuf Dantalle of the Allied Peoples Movement, Adekunle Omoaje of the Action Alliance, Samuel Memeh, Abdulrahman Abubakar of the Young Progressives Party, Yabagi Sani of the Action Democratic Party, and Dan Nwanyanwu of the Zenith Labour Party.

Notable figures at the summit included former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Governor Makinde, Obi, Kwankwaso, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, former Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke, and former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal.

Also present were former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Information Minister Jerry Gana, political economist Pat Utomi, and Kashim Ibrahim, among others.

Reacting to the development, the Wike-backed PDP described those who convened the Ibadan opposition summit as impostors, adding that it would field a separate candidate against President Tinubu.