Nigeria’s main opposition parties on Wednesday said they planned to merge ahead of presidential elections in 2015, potentially mounting a major challenge to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.

The announcement came after opposition governors met in Lagos to discuss the merger, saying it was necessary to bring change to a country that is Africa’s largest oil producer, but where deep poverty remains and corruption is endemic.

“At no time in our national life has radical change become more urgent,” said a statement read to reporters in the capital Abuja by ex-foreign minister Tom Ikimi of the Action Congress of Nigeria party.

“And to meet the challenge of that change, we the following progressive political parties, namely ACN, ANPP, APGA and CPC, have resolved to merge forthwith and become the All Progressive Congress,” he said.

Previous attempts at merging opposition parties have failed amid infighting, and regional politics are sure to play a role in talks to field a common presidential candidate for 2015.

The ruling PDP has won every presidential election since Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999.

The 2011 election won by President Goodluck Jonathan was seen as a major improvement over previous polls marred by violence and rigging, though significant problems remained.

While the PDP has controlled the presidency, opposition parties have had success on the state level in Nigeria, which includes 36 states.

The PDP currently controls two-thirds of the states, while the parties involved in the merger hold all but one of the others. The opposition ACN controls most of the southwest, including the economic capital Lagos.
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