The leader of the Big Tent Community, Prof. Pat Utomi, has said that the movement will support a single presidential candidate around whom the energy, hopes, and votes of all who seek a new Nigeria can be consolidated.

Utomi, in a statement issued on Thursday said the Big Tent is actively putting together a list of candidates to support across different levels.

He reiterated the support of the movement on the Ibadan Declarations of April 25, 2026.

According to him, the spirit, convictions, and commitments expressed in Ibadan continue to guide the collective resolve for national renewal, responsible leadership, and the rescue of Nigeria from the deepening crises in the country.

Utomi said: “It is encouraging to observe the growing efforts within the opposition coalition to seek the most reasonable, credible, and effective channels for national rescue.

“At a time such as this, when millions of Nigerians are burdened by economic hardship, insecurity, institutional decline, and loss of confidence in governance, all sincere patriotic forces must rise above narrow interests and work toward a common national purpose.

“The Big Tent remains committed to that higher purpose. Ours is a broad-based movement with members and partners drawn from across several political platforms and tendencies, including the Labour Party (LP), NDC, ADC, DLA, SDP, and others.

“This diversity is a strength. It reflects the national character of our mission and the urgency of building a credible coalition for rescue, reform, and reconstruction.

“In line with this mission, the Big Tent is actively putting together a list of candidates to support across different levels, in keeping with our values and strategic objectives.

“However, let it be clearly understood that we shall support a single presidential candidate—one candidate around whom the energy, hopes, and votes of all who seek a new Nigeria can be consolidated.

“To all members of our community, I urge immediate and active engagement in our ongoing mobilisation efforts.

“Every member should take personal responsibility for driving registrations on the Obidient Connect website. We need to urgently grow and strengthen our network of Poll Centre Marshals, iREV Use Monitors and Campaign Coordinators

“These structures are not optional. They are essential to the discipline, vigilance, coordination, and grassroots strength required to protect the people’s mandate and build an effective democratic movement.

“This is not the time for fatigue, hesitation, or fragmentation. It is the time for clarity, sacrifice, and organisation. History will not remember us for our complaints, but for our courage to act when the nation needed us most.

“Let us, therefore, stay focused, stay united, and stay committed to the noble cause of national rescue.

“From next week we shall begin to focus on the issues. We must get the country to focus on the issues and accountability.

“Too many distractions using the judiciary and INEC, and injection of scoundrels to cause disaffection in opposition ranks have been allowed to set the agenda.

“We will begin with power. Why is the power situation worse today? Incumbents say they should be prevented from running if they have not fixed the power.

“The nightmare seems to get worse. After two weeks of focus on power, we will turn to the jobs crisis for young people and how Ponzi economics of stabilisation have accelerated the pace down the road to serfdom.

“These will be followed by requesting an accounting from Abuja and the state governors of all the monies from removal of subsidies, devaluation of the Naira and soaring Oil prices from the current War in parts of the Middle East.

“From there we will turn to the Insecurity, the debt trap and excessive and reckless borrowing issue, and the damage to our institutions, and even the practice of democracy.

“With every issue, we will not only show how the incumbents have failed and seriously jeopardised the prospects for the next generation but provide operationalized immediately implementable policy alternatives.

“Nigeria must work. Nigeria can work. And together, we shall help make it so.”