By joshua 
OPPOSITION PARTIES UNITE IN IBADAN, VOW TO FIELD SINGLE CANDIDATE FOR 2027, DEMAND INEC CHAIRMAN’S REMOVAL
… Political leaders reject alleged one-party agenda, call for Electoral Act review ahead of 2027 polls
Leading opposition political parties in Nigeria have agreed to present a single presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections and vowed to resist what they described as moves by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to establish a one-party state.
The resolution was reached on Saturday at the Opposition Political Parties National Summit held in Ibadan, where party leaders deliberated on what they called the “existential threats” facing Nigeria’s democracy under the APC administration.
In a nine-point communique issued at the end of the summit, the parties declared their commitment to preserving multi-party democracy and ensuring competitive elections in 2027.
The parties said they would work collectively to agree on and support one presidential candidate to “rescue the nation and its long-suffering masses.” They also pledged to field candidates across all levels despite what they termed the APC’s efforts to position President Bola Tinubu as the sole contender.
The summit passed a vote of no confidence on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, accusing him of bias in favour of the ruling party. The opposition leaders said Nigerians had lost confidence in his ability to conduct free, fair, and credible elections and demanded his immediate removal.
“His continuous stay in office is vexatious and capable of triggering widespread crisis in our nation,” the communique stated.
The parties urged the National Assembly to immediately review the Electoral Act 2026, saying some provisions undermine the integrity of elections and conflict with constitutional guarantees. They also rejected recent INEC guidelines, describing them as deliberate obstacles to opposition participation, and called for an extension of the deadline for party primaries to the end of July 2026.
The summit further demanded the immediate release of political leaders currently detained or harassed over bailable offences, insisting they should be allowed to exercise their constitutional right to political participation.
The opposition leaders commended Nigerians for their resilience and readiness to work with opposition forces to end what they described as “state capture.” They also thanked Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, and the people of Oyo State for hosting the summit.
The communique was jointly signed by the chairmen of the participating opposition parties.