By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

A coalition of opposition political parties gathered in Ibadan today issued a sweeping nine-point declaration vowing to resist what they called the “oppressive and anti-democratic” grip of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Nigeria’s democracy.

The Ibadan Declaration, read at the conclusion of the Opposition Political Parties National Summit, represents a rare show of unity among rival parties facing what they described as “existential challenges” under the current administration.

Here are the nine resolves from the  summit:

1. RESISTANCE TO ONE-PARTY STATE
The coalition vowed to “resist all machinations by the APC to foist a one-party State on Nigeria” and pledged to fight for the survival of multi-party democracy.

2. CONTESTING 2027 ELECTIONS
Despite alleged “onslaughts and manoeuvrings” by the ruling party to impose President Bola Tinubu as the sole presidential candidate in 2027, the opposition declared it shall field candidates and contest the presidential and other elections.

3. SINGLE JOINT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
In a significant move toward unity, the parties agreed to work toward fielding one Presidential Candidate for the 2027 elections — to be agreed upon and supported by all participating opposition parties to “rescue our nation and her long suffering masses.”

4. REMOVAL OF INEC CHAIRMAN
The coalition declared that INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan “should not conduct the 2027 general elections,” accusing him of bias and partisanship in favour of the APC. The statement warned that his continued stay in office is “vexatious and capable of triggering wide spread crisis.”

5. REVIEW OF ELECTORAL ACT
The National Assembly was called upon to “immediately review the Electoral Act, 2026” and remove all sections that threaten electoral integrity or contradict constitutional provisions.

6. RELEASE OF DETAINED POLITICIANS
The coalition demanded the immediate release of “all leading politicians that are being detained or harassed on bailable offences,” calling for them to be allowed to exercise their fundamental rights of political participation.

7. EXTENSION OF PRIMARY DEADLINE
Describing recent INEC guidelines as “obstacles deliberately engineered” against opposition parties, the coalition demanded that the commission extend the deadline for primaries until the end of July 2026.

8. COMMENDATION OF NIGERIANS
The summit commended Nigerians for their “resilience and readiness to work with Opposition Parties to free our nation from State capture.”

9. THANKS TO OYO STATE GOVERNOR
The opposition parties formally thanked Oyo State Governor Engr. Seyi Makinde and the people of Oyo State for hosting “this epochal event.”

The communiqué was signed by the Chairmen of all participating opposition parties. The summit comes 9 months ahead of the 2027 general elections and signals an aggressive push toward a united front against the ruling APC.

The recent nomination of Murtala Sule Garo as Deputy Governor of Kano State marks a defining political moment in the unfolding direction of governance under the leadership of His Excellency, Abba Kabir Yusuf.

Women for Women Forum, considers this development not merely as a routine political appointment, but as a strategic consolidation of democratic leadership strength and a clear affirmation of the administration’s growing political stability in the State

From the grassroots perspective, this decision reflects a deeper understanding of the political landscape of Kano State one that demands experience, trust, loyalty, and broad-based acceptability. Hon. Murtala Sule Garo embodies these qualities, having consistently demonstrated administrative competence, political resilience, and a strong connection with the grassroots.

This nomination, therefore, stands as a political victory for unity and continuity. It sends a clear message that the administration is focused on strengthening internal cohesion while expanding its reach across all segments of society. It is a move that reinforces confidence among supporters and further solidifies the structure of the New Kano First Agenda.

In every political environment, leadership is tested by the ability to make decisions that unite, stabilize, and advance collective goals. In this regard, His Excellency has demonstrated decisive leadership by aligning experience with vision, and loyalty with performance.

As women who are deeply engaged in community mobilization across wards and local government areas, we recognize this moment as a turning point that will energize political participation, deepen trust in governance, and enhance service delivery to the people of Kano State.

We therefore declare our unwavering support for this development and reaffirm our commitment to sustaining grassroots enlightenment and mobilization. This is not just an appointment; it is a reinforcement of the people’s mandate and a step forward in strengthening democratic governance in Kano State.

The Women for Women Forum, remains firmly aligned with this vision and will continue to amplify the message of unity, progress, and political stability across every household in the state.

Signed:
Haj. Asma’u Imam
State Coordinator
Women for Women Forum
Kano State

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The opposition parties’ summit scheduled to hold today in Ibadan, Oyo State, is under threat of disruption by operatives of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a senior opposition figure has alleged.

The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, made the allegation in a statement issued on Saturday

According to Abdullahi, intelligence available to the opposition indicates that the APC has perfected plans to disrupt the ongoing summit, which is being hosted by coalition parties in Ibadan.

“We have uncovered plans by the ruling APC to disrupt the summit being held by the opposition parties in Ibadan, Oyo State, today, 25th of April,” Abdullahi said.

The ADC spokesperson recalled that opposition parties had earlier been denied access to venues in Abuja, forcing them to relocate to Ibadan. He accused the ruling party of hypocrisy, saying that while APC officials claim not to be frightened by opposition gatherings, their actions betray deep anxiety.

“After denying us the use of venues in Abuja, they now will not leave us alone to hold our meetings,” he added.

“They say they are not scared, but they are behaving like people who are terrified.”

Despite the alleged threat, Abdullahi vowed that the summit would continue as planned, insisting that the opposition remains on the right side of history and the Nigerian people.

“But we will not be deterred, because we are on the side of the Nigerian people,” he said.

As of the time of filing this report, the APC leadership had not issued an official response to the allegation. Security agencies in Oyo State have also yet to comment on the claim or announce any additional deployments around the summit venue.

The summit, which brings together several opposition political parties, is expected to discuss strategies to present a united front ahead of future elections.