Leaders of opposition political parties in Nigeria have resolved to present a united front against what they described as the “oppressive and anti-democratic” tendencies of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), vowing to prevent the emergence of a one-party state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The resolution was contained in the _Ibadan Declaration_, a communiqué issued at the end of the National Summit of Opposition Political Parties held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to the communiqué signed by chairmen of the participating opposition parties, the summit followed extensive deliberations on what they called “collective threats” and “existential challenges” facing the country under the APC-led government. The parties said urgent, collective action was needed to “rescue our nation and the destiny of over 200 million compatriots.”
*Key Resolutions*
The opposition parties declared their resolve to “resist all machinations by the APC to foist a one-party state on Nigeria” and to “fight for the survival of multi-party democracy in our country.”
Despite what they termed “onslaughts and manoeuvrings” by the ruling party to impose President Bola Tinubu as the sole presidential candidate in 2027, the parties vowed to field candidates and contest the presidential and other elections.
Crucially, the summit agreed to work towards fielding a single presidential candidate for the 2027 polls, one that would be “agreed and supported by all participating opposition parties to rescue our nation and her long suffering masses.”
*Demands on INEC and Electoral Reforms*
The communiqué called for the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, ahead of the 2027 elections. The opposition accused him of “bias and partisanship in favour of the ruling APC,” adding that Nigerians “across board have lost confidence in him and his capacity to guarantee the required neutrality to deliver free, fair, transparent and credible elections.”
“His continuous stay in office is vexatious and capable of triggering widespread crisis in our nation,” the statement read.
The parties also demanded an immediate review of the Electoral Act, 2026 by the National Assembly to expunge “all sections that threaten the sanctity and integrity of the elections and run counter to constitutional provisions.”
They further described recent guidelines released by INEC as “obstacles, deliberately engineered to impose conditions and deadlines on the opposition parties,” and demanded an extension of the deadline for primaries till the end of July 2026.
*Call for Release of Detained Politicians*
The summit called for the immediate release of “all leading politicians that are being detained or harassed on bailable offences,” insisting they must be allowed to exercise their fundamental rights of participation and inclusivity as Nigerians.
The communiqué commended Nigerians for their resilience and readiness to work with opposition parties to “free our nation from State capture.”
It also thanked Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and the people of the state for hosting what it described as an “epochal event.”
The Ibadan Declaration marks one of the most coordinated moves by opposition parties since the 2023 general elections, signaling a potential realignment as the country heads toward 2027. While the APC has dismissed the summit as a “gathering of individuals” lacking formal party authorisation, the participating opposition parties insist the Ibadan meeting represents a turning point in their push to offer Nigerians a credible alternative.
