Ibadan meeting: PDP, ADC blocs reject joint presidential ticket

The recent opposition summit held in Ibadan has been met with significant internal dissent, with key political blocs, including factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), publicly disavowing its resolutions. These groups have stated that the summit does not represent their official stance and have reiterated their intention to field independent candidates for the 2027 presidential elections, directly contradicting the summit's communique calling for a joint ticket.

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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.

The Peoples Democratic Party's National Working Committee, reportedly backed by the influential Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has gone further, labeling the summit's organizers as "impostors." They claim that prominent opposition figures, such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Senate President David Mark, were misled into participating. This internal division within the opposition highlights the ongoing power struggles and lack of cohesive strategy ahead of the crucial 2027 electoral cycle.

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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.

Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has seized on the controversy, particularly focusing on remarks made by the summit's host, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde. The APC has accused Makinde of making "inciting remarks" and deemed him unfit for office, referencing the historical "Operation Wetie" crisis. This political maneuvering by the APC aims to discredit the opposition's efforts and capitalize on the disunity within their ranks, framing the Ibadan meeting as a failed attempt to exert pressure through "blackmail."

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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.

Adding to the fragmentation, the two factions of the ADC, led by Kingsley Ogga and Nafiu Gombe, have separately denied any participation. The Accord Party has even threatened legal action against those misrepresenting its position. The Labour Party's interim national chairman has also distanced the party from the summit. This widespread rejection and internal conflict suggest that the opposition's bid to present a united front against President Bola Tinubu in 2027 faces formidable internal challenges, making the prospect of a joint presidential ticket highly uncertain.

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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.