Pat Utomi leads opposition coalition talks for 2027 elections

Professor Pat Utomi is leading a Political Commission under the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) to facilitate closed-door talks among major opposition presidential candidates. The initiative aims to forge a single, consensus candidate to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.

The MCE has opted for secret engagements to prevent sabotage by political actors who might attempt to frustrate negotiations. Shortlisted candidates reportedly include Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Adewole Adebayo, Seyi Makinde, Donald Duke, Sandy Onor, Peter Agada, and Omoyele Sowore.

However, Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC), has officially rejected involvement in these talks. Sowore stated that the AAC is not part of the coalition plan, asserting that the party’s agenda is rooted in ideological clarity rather than elite bargaining. He emphasized that the AAC seeks a revolutionary break from the existing political order and will not join an arrangement intended to simply replace one set of establishment politicians with another.