Professor of Political Economy, Pat Utomi, will lead the Movement for Credible Elections in closed-door talks with major opposition presidential candidates as part of efforts to produce a single candidate to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 presidential election.

The meetings with the candidates and leaders of their parties are expected to be concluded within two weeks, according to the MCE.

Those expected to be engaged include Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party, Seyi Makinde of the Allied People’s Movement, Donald Duke of the People’s Redemption Party, Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party, Peter Agada of the Young Progressives Party and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress.

The development was disclosed in a statement on Monday by the Media Coordinator of the MCE, James Ezema.

The statement said the Utomi-led Political Commission would hold the meetings behind closed doors to prevent what it described as sabotage by “political mercenaries and jobbers” opposed to the initiative.

It said the engagements were intended to avoid a repeat of previous opposition arrangements in which political actors agreed on the need for a united front but disagreed when it became necessary to select a candidate to lead the alliance.

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