2027: Accord, AAC, SDP Candidates Unite In Fresh Opposition Alliance Against Tinubu
The presidential candidates of the Accord Party, African Action Congress and Social Democratic Party have agreed to form a joint political alliance ahead of the 2027 presidential election, marking the latest in a series of opposition realignments aimed at presenting a unified challenge to President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress.
Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim of Accord, Mr Omoyele Sowore of AAC and Prince Adewole Adebayo of SDP reached the resolution after a meeting in Port Harcourt over the weekend, where they deliberated on Nigeria’s democracy, economy and security. The three candidates described the proposed alliance as an attempt to develop a credible governing alternative rather than merely an anti-incumbency arrangement.
In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the candidates expressed concern over what they described as the concentration of political power, weakening of democratic institutions and shrinking space for genuine political competition. They warned that Nigeria risked moving from a competitive multi-party democracy towards what they termed “a coronation disguised as an election”.
The leaders resolved to align their political forces towards presenting Nigerians with a joint democratic alternative in 2027. According to the statement, the proposed alliance will seek to mobilise workers, youths, women, professionals, entrepreneurs, civil society organisations and Nigerians across ethnic, religious, regional and political divides.
Further consultations, they said, would determine the structure, modalities and presidential candidate of the proposed alliance. “The larger national interest must take precedence over individual political ambitions,” they declared.
The three presidential candidates demanded an immediate review of cases involving Nigerians detained or imprisoned over political expression, self-determination advocacy or the peaceful exercise of constitutionally protected rights. They specifically called for the immediate release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, whose agitation has centred on the political rights and aspirations of the Igbo people, and Bichia Maisango, whom they identified as an advocate of Hausa Zallah cultural rights.
They also called for an end to what they described as the legal and political persecution of Omoyele Sowore over his political activities. The leaders stressed that their position did not necessarily amount to an endorsement of the views or methods of the individuals concerned. “Democratic societies must accommodate dissent and peaceful disagreement,” they said.
The candidates called on the international community, democratic governments, regional institutions and international democracy and human-rights organisations to closely monitor Nigeria’s democratic trajectory. They expressed concern over alleged attempts by individuals within the security architecture, electoral institutions, judiciary, legislature and executive to weaken opposition parties, manipulate public institutions and frustrate genuine political competition.
While rejecting foreign interference in Nigeria’s sovereign affairs, they called for accountability where individuals abuse public office or institutional authority to undermine constitutional democracy. They urged international partners to document credible evidence of democratic reversals and consider targeted sanctions, including visa restrictions and other lawful measures, against individuals credibly established to have participated in such activities.
“Nigeria’s multi-party democracy must be preserved. No individual, political party, security agency, electoral official or institution is bigger than the Nigerian Constitution,” they declared.
The leaders criticised the economic policies of the Tinubu administration, particularly fuel subsidy removal and currency devaluation, which they said had contributed to rising living costs, declining purchasing power, unemployment and widespread economic hardship. They called for urgent economic reforms, including substantial salary reviews towards a genuine living wage, stronger domestic production, investment promotion, job creation and measures to reduce inflation.
On insecurity, they demanded a proactive national security strategy built around intelligence, technology, adequately equipped security forces, community cooperation, economic opportunity and effective prosecution. They rejected what they described as appeasement, selective enforcement and political complicity that enabled violent groups to operate with impunity.
The three candidates pledged to defend Nigeria’s multi-party system and reject political monopolisation. “A democracy without meaningful opposition is merely an electoral ritual,” they said, affirming their commitment to the constitutional right of Nigerians to form political parties, contest elections, disagree with government and offer alternative programmes without intimidation.
The weekend meeting in Port Harcourt also served as the launch of the Movement for Democratic Renewal for the South-South and South-East zones, with speakers calling for unity of purpose to rescue the country. The MDR is co-chaired by Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim and the Nigeria Labour Congress President, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
The movement was formally launched in Abuja in June 2026, drawing participants from labour unions, civil society organisations, youth groups and political stakeholders. According to organisers, MDR is a coalition of trade unionists, political actors, civil society groups and citizens committed to democratic inclusion, electoral integrity, social justice, constitutionalism and the rule of law.
Speaking at the launch, representatives of the NLC said organised labour was working with Olawepo-Hashim because of his credibility, integrity and longstanding commitment to democratic practice in Nigeria. “We actually need such a movement because things are not going the right way in the country. Nigerians need good governance, and wherever we see initiatives to promote good governance, we are part of it,” said Dr Steven Nabayi, Chairman of the NLC FCT Council, speaking on behalf of NLC President Joe Ajaero.
Addressing the gathering, Olawepo-Hashim said the movement was established to defend democracy, strengthen institutions and ensure governance remains responsive to ordinary Nigerians. He warned that rising inflation and naira depreciation were eroding workers’ earnings, noting that wage increases lose value when purchasing power continues to fall.
The three presidential candidates have their party nominations confirmed for the 2027 election, though one of the candidates faces a dispute over the legitimacy of his candidacy.
Omoyele Sowore, human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, was adopted as the consensus presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in May 2026. This will be his third consecutive run for the Nigerian presidency under the AAC platform, having previously contested the 2019 and 2023 elections.
Prince Adewole Adebayo was elected as the presidential flagbearer of the Social Democratic Party during the party’s 2026 National Conventions and Presidential Primaries in Bauchi. He was elected as the consensus candidate by delegates from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Adebayo has since unveiled a five-point agenda for the transformation of Nigeria, promising to tackle insecurity, inadequate electricity supply and weak institutions if elected.
However, the status of Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim’s candidacy remains contested. In June 2026, the national leadership of the Accord Party disowned him as its presidential candidate, stating that the party did not produce a presidential candidate at the close of sale of expression of interest and nomination forms. The party said its scheduled presidential primary was cancelled as there was no aspirant within its electoral guidelines timeframe, and that INEC was duly informed.
According to a statement signed by Accord’s National Chairman, Barrister Maxwell Mgbuden, Olawepo-Hashim wrote to the party expressing interest on 26 May 2026, after the expiration of the approved timeline. The party said it instructed its bankers to reverse his payments for the forms.
Despite this, stakeholders of the Accord Party in Osun and Ekiti states have reaffirmed their support for Olawepo-Hashim as the party’s presidential candidate. In June 2026, party leaders in Osun State gathered in Osogbo to publicly endorse his presidential ambition, insisting that no external influence could overturn the mandate freely given to him by party members.
The Accord-AAC-SDP alliance is the latest in a series of opposition realignments ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Various opposition groups and individuals have been exploring coalition arrangements, though many have struggled to overcome rival ambitions, defections and mistrust.
The African Democratic Congress has disclosed plans for an opposition coalition to defeat the APC and unseat President Tinubu. The G-100, a group of opposition politicians, has been pushing for the emergence of a single opposition presidential candidate. However, the APC has dismissed opposition efforts to unite, saying they would fail.
The Peoples Democratic Party remains divided on the question of alliances, with the Nyesom Wike-backed faction ruling out any coalition while the Tanimu Turaki-led faction keeps the possibility open.
The proposed Accord-AAC-SDP alliance, according to the candidates, is not merely an anti-incumbency arrangement but an attempt to develop a credible governing alternative based on democratic accountability, economic justice, security, institutional reform, social inclusion and national development. They said they would continue consultations with other presidential candidates, political parties, organised labour, civil society organisations, professional associations, youth and women’s groups, traditional institutions and religious bodies.
“The 2027 election must be a genuine contest over Nigeria’s future, rather than a predetermined political coronation. Nigeria belongs to its people. Political power belongs to the people. The ballot belongs to the people,” they stated.