The leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday, held a joint meeting.
The meeting focused on charting a way forward for opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections in Nigeria.
The PDP confirmed the meeting in a terse statement released via its Facebook account, accompanied by a video showing the party leaders arriving for the meeting.
The statement read; “Happening now: A stakeholders’ meeting is taking place between the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”
Those present in the meeting include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, factional ADC National Chairman, David Mark, former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and several others.
Also in attendance at the meeting, which took place at the residence of Mark, were former Minister of Information, Jerry Gana, and PDP National Secretary, Taofeek Arapaja.
Speaking after the meeting, Governor Makinde disclosed that it was a solidarity visit following the ADC protest against the activities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He reiterated the commitment of the opposition leaders to protect democracy in Nigeria, going into the 2027 elections.
His position was corroborated in a statement released by the PDP after the meeting.
The PDP statement, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, affirmed the need for opposition politicians to be vigilant and uphold democratic principles.
It read, “The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) paid a solidarity visit to the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over the recent political attacks targeted at Nigeria’s opposition parties.
“During the visit, the PDP acknowledged the growing and shared threat confronting opposition political parties in the country, noting that similar pressures have been experienced by the PDP in recent times. The delegation emphasized the need vigilance in the face of actions capable of undermining democratic principles and political plurality.”
The meeting took place on the same day that the ADC called for the immediate resignation or removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), accusing him of partisanship and actions capable of undermining Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.
The demand was made on Wednesday during a protest by party leaders and supporters of the party at INEC headquarters in Abuja.
The development comes amid a deepening leadership crisis within the party that began last September and has since escalated into a wider confrontation between the ADC and the electoral commission ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party’s position was conveyed by the ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, and the National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
They accused the INEC chairman of exceeding his constitutional mandate and allegedly aligning with a faction within the party.