The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, has fiercely dismissed the opposition coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, emphasizing that it will not hinder President Bola Tinubu's re-election in 2027. Ganduje expressed confidence in Tinubu's victory, asserting that the opposition, which consists of individuals with conflicting political ideologies and self-serving interests, is incapable of forming a unified force.
Ganduje criticized the opposition's fragmented nature, stating, “Their gathering is an assemblage of people with divergent political interests. No amount of political arrangement or gang-up can stop the good people of Nigeria from re-electing Tinubu as President in 2027.”
Atiku had recently announced the formation of a coalition aimed at dislodging President Tinubu in the next general election, drawing parallels to the 2015 coalition that resulted in the defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Other key figures in the opposition coalition include former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, who was represented at the press conference by Tanko Yinusa.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, also dismissed the coalition's efforts, calling it a “political gambit dead on arrival.” Ata referred to the opposition leaders as "elusive political wanderers," arguing that Nigeria has already found competent leadership under Tinubu. He labeled Atiku as a "serial contester" who had been rejected at the polls multiple times, criticized El-Rufai as a “desperate power seeker,” and accused Obi of fueling ethnic and religious divisions.
The statement also mentioned the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State and the opposition's criticism of President Tinubu's declaration of a state of emergency. The coalition described the emergency rule as unconstitutional and an assault on the country's democracy. They called for the immediate reinstatement of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the state House of Assembly, urging the judiciary to act swiftly to strike down the President’s proclamation.
Ganduje and Ata’s statements underscore the APC’s strong stance against the opposition’s attempts to challenge Tinubu’s leadership, reinforcing the party’s commitment to securing a second term for the President in 2027.
