The presidential candidates of the Accord Party, African Action Congress (AAC) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) have agreed to work together to build a common democratic platform ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The move could signal a significant realignment within Nigeria's opposition politics as the parties seek to present a joint alternative to President Bola Tinubu and the ruling political establishment.
The agreement was reached during a meeting in Port Harcourt at the weekend involving Accord presidential candidate, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, AAC candidate, Omoyele Sowore, and SDP candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo.
The candidates reviewed developments in Nigeria's democracy, economy and security, expressing concern over what they described as the growing concentration of political power, weakening democratic institutions and shrinking space for meaningful political competition.
They warned that the country could move away from competitive multiparty democracy towards what they described as "a coronation disguised as an election."
Following their deliberations, the three candidates agreed to align their political forces towards presenting Nigerians with a joint democratic alternative in 2027.
The proposed alliance is expected to draw support from workers, youths, women, professionals, entrepreneurs, civil society groups and Nigerians across ethnic, religious, regional and political divides.
The candidates said the structure of the alliance, its operating modalities and the process for selecting a presidential candidate would be determined later.
They, however, stressed that the national interest would take precedence over individual political ambitions.
The opposition leaders also called for an immediate review of cases involving Nigerians detained or imprisoned over political expression, self-determination advocacy or the peaceful exercise of constitutionally protected rights.
They specifically demanded the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, whose agitation has centred on the political rights and aspirations of the Igbo people, and Bichia Maisango, whom they described as an advocate of Hausa Zallah cultural rights.
They also called for an end to what they described as the legal and political persecution of Sowore over his political activities.
The candidates said their position should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the views or methods of the individuals concerned.
"Democratic societies must accommodate dissent and peaceful disagreement," they said.
They further urged the international community, democratic governments, regional institutions and international democracy and human-rights organisations to monitor developments in Nigeria's democratic system.
The leaders expressed concern over alleged efforts by individuals within the security architecture, electoral institutions, judiciary, legislature and executive to weaken opposition parties, manipulate public institutions and restrict genuine political competition.
While rejecting foreign interference in Nigeria's sovereign affairs, they called for accountability where public office holders or institutional authorities are found to have abused their positions to undermine constitutional democracy.
They also urged international partners to document credible evidence of democratic reversals and consider lawful measures, including targeted visa restrictions, against individuals found to have participated in such activities.
"Nigeria's multiparty democracy must be preserved. No individual, political party, security agency, electoral official or institution is bigger than the Nigerian Constitution," they declared.
Economic Concerns
The three candidates criticised the economic policies of the Tinubu administration, particularly the removal of fuel subsidies and currency devaluation.
They argued that the measures had contributed to rising living costs, declining purchasing power, unemployment and worsening economic hardship.
They called for urgent economic reforms, including significant salary reviews towards achieving a genuine living wage, stronger domestic production, increased investment, job creation and measures to contain inflation.
On insecurity, they advocated a proactive national security strategy centred on intelligence gathering, technology, properly equipped security personnel, community cooperation, economic opportunity and effective prosecution.
They rejected what they described as appeasement, selective enforcement and political complicity that allowed violent groups to operate with impunity.
The candidates pledged to defend Nigeria's multiparty system and resist what they termed political monopolisation.
"A democracy without meaningful opposition is merely an electoral ritual," they said, reaffirming Nigerians' constitutional right to form political parties, contest elections, disagree with government and present alternative programmes without intimidation.
They also maintained that national unity must be based on justice and inclusion.
"Unity cannot be built by suppressing differences; it must be built by guaranteeing justice within diversity," they said.
According to the candidates, the proposed alliance is intended to go beyond opposition to an incumbent government. They said it would seek to develop a credible governing alternative based on democratic accountability, economic justice, security, institutional reform, social inclusion and national development.
Democratic Renewal Movement Launched in Port Harcourt
The development came as the Movement for Democratic Renewal (MDR) for the South-South and South-East zones was launched in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Saturday.
Speakers at the event called for greater unity and collective action to address what they described as Nigeria's worsening political and economic challenges.
The MDR is co-chaired by Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
NLC officials and leaders of industrial unions gathered at the NLC Labour House in Port Harcourt to deliberate on what they described as a fundamental national question: "How do we rescue Nigeria's democracy and restore hope to millions of our people?"
Speaking at the event, Olawepo-Hashim said Nigeria had the potential to be a great country but argued that successive leaders had contributed to diminishing its prospects.
According to him, Nigeria's economic prosperity continued until 1976, when the country was, in his description, "a lender, not a borrowing nation."
He lamented the decline of industrialisation, saying the country must urgently reclaim its democratic institutions.
"Any democracy that abandons the welfare of the workers is a mirage," he said.
Also speaking, SDP presidential candidate Prince Adewole Adebayo urged Nigerians to resist intimidation and political pressure during elections.
"All workers must vote, because our problem is that our leaders today see themselves as colonial masters in black skin," he said.
Adebayo also stressed the importance of ideological unity, arguing that political movements needed to develop organised cadres capable of participating in governance rather than mobilising only for protests.
"Unity is important. For people, we can only be united by ideology. You must raise cadres not for protest alone, but for government," he said.
Ajaero, who was represented at the event by Denja Yakub, said Nigerians could not depend on outsiders to solve the country's problems.
"Nobody will fight for us. We need to fight for ourselves," he said, adding that industrial development would remain difficult without worker-friendly policies and political leadership.
NLC chairmen from Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa, Edo, Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia and Ebonyi states attended the event.
