Catholic cleric and former Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has thrown his weight behind efforts by opposition political parties to unite ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing a strong opposition as essential to sustaining Nigeria’s democratic traditions.
Onaiyekan expressed his support on Wednesday in Abuja when leaders of opposition parties under the G100 Coalition, comprising national chairmen and national secretaries of participating parties, visited him at his residence, reports Daily Independent.
His position was contained in a statement issued on Friday by Salihu Moh. Lukman on behalf of the coalition.
During the meeting, the opposition leaders briefed the Cardinal on ongoing efforts to build a united political front capable of presenting Nigerians with a credible alternative to the administration of President Bola Tinubu and offering a new direction for the country.
They also updated him on the development of key policy and organisational documents designed to guide the coalition’s activities and establish a common framework for cooperation among participating parties.
The documents include the National Covenant for Democratic Renewal, which outlines the coalition’s guiding principles; the Framework for Opposition Unity, which defines how the parties will work together; and the National Reform Programme, which sets out the priorities of a government emerging from their cooperation.
According to the coalition, work on the three documents has been concluded, while efforts are ongoing to secure their formal adoption by participating parties.
The coalition plans to hold its second summit on Monday, November 9, 2026, where the parties are expected to endorse and unveil the documents.
Onaiyekan commended the opposition leaders for their initiative, expressing support for efforts to unite political parties and candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
He welcomed the prospect of Nigerians having genuine and credible political alternatives, noting that such choices would enable citizens to make informed decisions about the country’s future and leadership.
The Cardinal also emphasised the need for competent, honest and compassionate leadership to address Nigeria’s numerous challenges and make decent living conditions possible for citizens.
Earlier, the delegation briefed him on the coalition’s activities, including efforts to attract additional political parties and establish mechanisms for resolving potential disagreements among participating groups.
The leaders said the coalition remained committed to rebuilding public confidence in Nigeria’s capacity to overcome its challenges through new leadership, a clear national vision and renewed attention to citizens’ welfare, national security and public trust in government.
They added that the initiative was designed to establish a stronger foundation for political cooperation and a common approach to tackling the country’s social, economic and governance challenges.
The delegation also acknowledged Onaiyekan’s longstanding advocacy for justice and compassion, requesting his continued prayers for the success of the coalition’s efforts.
The G100 Coalition disclosed that its leaders would visit other prominent Nigerians and diplomatic missions in the coming weeks to broaden consultations and strengthen support for opposition cooperation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
