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The Democratic Front (TDF) has said the failure of the recent G100 summit of opposition political parties demonstrates that the opposition lacks the unity and political strength required to pose a serious challenge to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Danjuma Muhammad, and Secretary, Wale Adedayo on Tuesday, the group described the much-publicised summit as a major setback for efforts by opposition parties to form a united front against President Tinubu.
According to the TDF, the conspicuous absence of key opposition figures, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his NDC counterpart, Peter Obi, exposed the deep divisions and conflicting ambitions within the opposition camp.
The group said the development had further weakened the opposition's plans to produce a single candidate capable of challenging President Tinubu in 2027.
“We view the conspicuous absence of the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, and his NDC counterpart, Peter Obi, from the recently held summit of opposition parties in Abuja as a major setback in the opposition's attempt to wrest power next year,” the statement said.
According to the TDF, the Abuja summit represented the climax of what it described as a failed attempt by opposition parties to agree on a unified presidential candidate.
The group said it was not surprised by the apparent disagreement between Atiku and Obi, noting that both politicians had previously championed the idea of a united opposition front through the Ibadan Declaration.
TDF argued that their individual political ambitions had now made the prospect of opposition unity increasingly difficult.
“It did not come as a surprise that Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, who initiated the famous Ibadan Declaration of April 25, 2027, to persuade opposition parties to adopt a unified front against President Tinubu, have developed cold feet towards the same objective,” the group stated.
The TDF further accused opposition leaders of placing personal ambitions above collective national interests, arguing that their actions had contributed to a loss of ideological direction among opposition parties.
It said internal party discipline and cohesion had deteriorated, while political disagreements, litigations and alleged disregard for party constitutions had further compounded the crisis within the opposition.
The group also criticised opposition parties for what it described as a contradiction in their approach to multi-party democracy.
According to the TDF, opposition figures had accused President Tinubu of attempting to create a one-party state, while simultaneously working towards producing a single presidential candidate across different political parties.
The TDF maintained that the failure of the opposition parties to reach a consensus at the G100 summit was evidence of growing disunity and confusion within their ranks.
It added that the development showed that the opposition, in its current state, lacks the capacity to mount a credible electoral challenge against President Tinubu's re-election bid in 2027.
The group concluded that the failed summit had exposed what it described as the opposition's political weakness, insisting that President Tinubu remained in a strong position ahead of the next presidential election.