News, Politics

Opposition Parties Weigh Consensus for 2027 Primaries to Cut Costs, Preserve Unity

Published by Samuel Ayomide on March 8th, 2026.

As the 2027 presidential election approaches, Nigeria’s opposition parties are reportedly moving toward consensus arrangements to select their candidates, aiming to avoid the financial and logistical pressures of direct primaries. Key parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and Labour Party (LP), are said to be engaging aspirants and stakeholders to explore this option.

The shift follows the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates parties to select candidates either through direct primaries or consensus, eliminating the previous delegate system. Party officials argue that direct primaries would deplete resources ahead of the general elections, potentially weakening their campaigns.

In the ADC, prominent figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Labour Party candidate Peter Obi, and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi have declared presidential ambitions. Party sources said leadership is actively engaging aspirants to secure a consensus candidate to maintain party cohesion and optimize resources.

Similarly, PDP leaders see consensus as a strategic way to unify the party amid ongoing internal tensions, while NNPP and LP officials also consider it a practical and cost-effective approach. The Labour Party’s spokesperson emphasized that consensus would limit the monetization of primaries, ensuring candidate selection aligns more closely with party members’ preferences.

With INEC’s timelines for primaries running from April 23 to May 30, 2026, opposition parties appear focused on balancing legal compliance, financial prudence, and internal unity. Analysts note that consensus could reduce intra-party conflicts and strengthen opposition positioning ahead of next year’s elections.

This emerging trend reflects a broader effort by opposition parties to navigate legal requirements while conserving resources, signaling a pragmatic approach to Nigeria’s increasingly competitive electoral landscape.