Ibadan, Oyo State, NIGERIA — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar arrived in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Saturday, to participate in the highly anticipated National Summit of All Opposition Political Parties.
The summit, chaired by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and hosted by Governor Seyi Makinde at the Government House Banquet Hall, marks a historic attempt to forge a unified front among Nigeria’s opposition leaders.
Atiku, who departed Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport earlier this morning, joined fellow political heavyweights and stakeholders to engage on the nation’s pressing socio-economic and security challenges.
Okay News reports that the summit is themed “That We May Work Together for a United Opposition to Sustain Our Democracy,” and aims to articulate a forward-looking agenda for national development.
The event features an illustrious list of speakers, including Professor Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, Professor Pat Utomi, and Dr. Usman Bugaje, focusing on governance, economic dynamism, and national security. Mike Igini, a former INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, is also slated to present a paper on the urgency of free and fair electoral processes. The gathering is widely viewed as a critical step toward building a credible alternative to the ruling party ahead of future electoral cycles.
Despite the high-profile attendance, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) raised alarms earlier today, alleging plots by the ruling APC to disrupt the summit. However, the atmosphere in Ibadan remains focused on the summit’s core mission: strengthening democratic institutions and addressing the “tragedy of widespread insecurity” currently ravaging parts of the country.
