Former Public Grievances and Feedback (PGF) Director General Salihu Lukman said that Nigeria’s opposition parties may unveil a consensus presidential candidate only a few days before the 2027 election, in an effort to mount a serious challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Lukman, who previously headed the PGF, told media outlets that the opposition’s move to select a single candidate at the last minute could “reshape the dynamics of the race” and give voters a clear alternative to the incumbent party.
The 2027 presidential election, scheduled for later this year, will be the country’s next quadrennial poll after the 2023 vote that returned the APC to power. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, regularly sees intense competition between the APC and a fragmented opposition.
Opposition leaders have been in informal talks about forming a united front, but no official candidate has yet been announced. A consensus candidate, if presented just days before voting, would aim to consolidate the fragmented opposition vote and improve their chances against the APC’s nominee.
Analysts note that such a late‑stage announcement could limit the ruling party’s ability to adjust its campaign strategy, while also testing the opposition’s capacity to mobilise supporters quickly across the country’s diverse electorate.
<small>Source: Punch Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>