Presidential candidates have been urged to commit to post-election dialogue ahead of the 2027 general election as part of efforts to strengthen national unity and prevent political disputes from undermining democratic stability.
The proposed dialogue would bring together presidential candidates, political party leaders, labour unions, academics, journalists and civil society representatives, regardless of the outcome of the election.
The call was made by Professor Udenta Udenta, a founding National Secretary of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and a fellow at the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, during an interview on ARISE News on Tuesday.
Udenta said political parties should agree before the polls to engage in discussions after the election, irrespective of who emerges victorious or whether the results lead to legal disputes or a runoff.
He explained that the initiative would provide a platform for political actors to manage disagreements, sustain communication and work towards peaceful coexistence after an intense election campaign.
According to him, the process could begin with a small group of Nigerians committed to national unity reaching out to political parties and candidates to secure their support.
He argued that the proposal should not be abandoned if the major political parties initially decline to participate, noting that support from a few candidates could help build momentum.
“It’s important that even three out of 20 say, ‘This makes a lot of sense, let’s pause and give it a thought.’ Let us not say because the big parties are meeting, ‘We are going to win, so why bother?’ We must engage them,” he said.
Udenta warned that the struggle for political power could heighten tensions as the election approaches, making it necessary for candidates to consider dialogue as part of efforts to safeguard the country’s future.
He also called on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition parties to explore avenues for cooperation without compromising the opposition’s responsibility to scrutinise government policies and hold elected officials accountable.
Citing Nigeria’s transition to civilian rule in 1999, he recalled that an inter-party arrangement was established despite former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s victory in that year’s presidential election.
He said the experience offered a basis for considering political arrangements that could encourage cooperation during periods of national uncertainty.
However, Udenta acknowledged that any proposal requiring constitutional changes would need further debate, adding that the immediate task was to assess the feasibility of the proposed dialogue mechanism.
He further expressed concern about declining public confidence in institutions, including the judiciary, saying political leaders needed to explore alternative ways of resolving disagreements and protecting democratic institutions.
He maintained that engaging political parties and candidates across party lines was necessary to promote national cohesion and preserve the future of Nigeria’s democracy.