How to read this story
Politics
Political Report
Nigeria · West Africa
Public power, representation and democratic consequence
Ahead Of 2027 Polls: APC replies Tinubu critics after Lamido, Mark, others shade APC government
As the 2027 elections draw close, politicians from various political parties are strategizing, walking their way to power.
Coalition move aimed at unseating incumbent President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is in motion, but the All Progressives Congress (APC) has stated that the reelection of the president for the second term is inevitable in the 2027 election.
On Tuesday, in the statement of APC spokesperson, Bala Ibrahim, who described the coalition plot as “dead on arrival.”
Various sources within the coalition movement disclosed their plot to adopt the African Democratic Congress as their choice of political party, reports say.
Ahead Of 2027 Polls: APC Replies Tinubu Critics
Recently, various prominent political figures, like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, former Senate President David Mark, among others, in Nigeria labelled the administration of APC a catastrophe to Nigeria.
“The APC government, which came into being on the false and evil propaganda to save Nigeria from PDP is now a disaster to our nation and therefore must be voted out of power,’’ the coalition members attacked the Tinubu.
David Mark, who was the sole signatory to this statement, urged party members and Nigerians at large to support the coalition movement TARGETED at unseating the ruling party (APC) in the 2027 presidential election.
Tinubu administration has come under scrutiny over hardship, economic and security hassles Nigeria is faced with since his swearing-in at the president of the nation.
Sarcastically, major opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) have been factored by intra-party crisis recently.
In a bid to oust president Bola Tinubu in 2027, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Nassir El-Rufai, among other prominent Nigerian politicians unveiled the new political coalition movement in Abuja, FCT, 20th March, 2025.
This development fuelled widespread nationwide discourse on the imminence of joint opposition, attracting a series of reactions from pundits and masses, respectively.
Ahead Of 2027 Polls: APC Replies Tinubu Critics
In recent months, there have been rumours of which political party would be best suited for the coalition, but on 19th May, 2025, it was reported that the coalition had officially picked the African Democratic Congress as their preferred platform.
It is also of public knowledge that the coalition has also selected former Senate President David Mark as their interim secretary, with an official statement and unveiling scheduled to hold on Wednesday.
At the closing of the meeting, the coalition released a communique, which says: ” The meeting encourages all well-meaning PDP members and other patriotic Nigerians to join the coalition.
“All coalition partners must be united on the issues of national unity, democracy, national security and national economy and the political will to stamp out corruption embedded in our institutions.
“The coalition partners to work out the modalities of winning all elections, taking into consideration local and national peculiarities.”
The communique read that the coming together of Concerned PDP Leaders was to address the issues within the party.
The group aired their concern that since the party lost in their last presidential election and the stepping-down of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as the National chairman, it has been so difficult for PDP to recover.
Ahead Of 2027 Polls: APC Replies Tinubu Critics
“Vested interests from within and the irresponsible actions of the APC-led Federal Government, which has been using state institutions to stifle and destroy Democracy, know no bounds!, it added.
“The inability of PDP leadership to lead the party by its Constitution, rules and regulations led it into a chaotic and undisciplined Party!
“The vision of the founding fathers for which the party was established and the role it played in restoring Nigeria as stable and united country and key player on the regional, continental, and global stage has been washed away just as our roles as the leader of the black race is now overtaken by smaller and less endowed countries.”
Atiku, Mark, among other PDP leaders bemoan the present state of the country, stating that Nigeria has suddenly become weakened and a source of caricature in the international community.
The coalition members stressed further in the communique: “All indices of development that support the comfort and quality of life of the citizens have collapsed, and life is now hell in Nigeria.
“The PDP, which is organic with the discipline, capacity, and history to lead and save Nigeria, is now a shadow of its old self. The heat wave unleashed by the APC Federal government through threats, blackmail and patronage has forced elected officers in government to abandon the PDP.”
A source close to the coalition revealed that the majority of PDP leaders had unanimously decided to support the ADC candidate while continue being members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He stated, “You see, in the meeting, we discussed the state of the PDP and how the party can no longer effectively lead the opposition.
“So, we resolved to form a personal alliance with the ADC. What this means is that some of us will remain in the PDP while working for the victory of the ADC presidential candidate.
“I can confirm to you that the ADC will be unveiled as the coalition’s political party platform tomorrow (today) here in Abuja. Some PDP leaders will defect, while others will remain in the party.”
Ahead Of 2027 Polls: APC Replies Tinubu Critics
In furtherance, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said that the members of the coalition lost in the past and said assured APC supporters that President Bola Tinubu will defeat them again in 2027.
He said: “The fact that they are meeting in hotels or places at night without any fear means the APC government has improved the security situation of the country. It means the power system of the country has improved. It has improved so well that they don’t have any fear of insecurity, nor do they have any fear of power failure.
“The atmosphere provided by the APC administration for the freedom of association peacefully in itself is a pointer to the improvement.
“The government will continue to provide a favourable atmosphere for them to meet and discuss freely without any harassment, but they are not likely to give any fear or scare to the APC because they are dead on arrival.
“But the coalition is a waste of time. Is it dead on arrival? Yes. It’s dead on arrival. All of them are doing it for selfish reasons and not in the interest of Nigerians.
“I said the coalition is dead on arrival because it’s composed of people who were defeated politically, defeated ideologically, and they will be defeated again collectively in 2027 by our party’s candidate.”
Meanwhile, Abba Moro, senator representing Benue South, stated that the coming together of the members of the coalition in Abuja yesterday was targeted at realizing national goal.
The PDP senator, Moro, in an interview described the gathering of members of the coalition as the meeting of elder statesmen.
Ahead Of 2027 Polls: APC Replies Tinubu Critics
He said: “These are senior and elder statesmen and political leaders in the country. I want to believe that they know what they are doing.
“I think this is part of the general trend in the country now, a season of alignment and realignment to achieve a political purpose.”
In another interview, chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Segun Sowunmi, noted with the recent resolution of the intra-party crisis at the National Secretary Office, the path is smooth to plan.
Addressing the meeting between Atiku and associates, Sowunmi said: “It is their right to meet as many times as they like. The PDP is a party grounded on rules, procedures and history.
“Now that the PDP has resolved the issues of secretaryship, the party is now able to concentrate and let those who love to meander about keep doing their thing while the party plans.”
In a similar development, Sola Fasure, the media aide to ex-Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola, threw his weight behind the closed-door meeting between the former Vice president and major leaders of the PDP
In his reaction, Fasure described the meeting as “a good indication of progress,” noting that it aligns with ongoing coalition efforts aimed at uniting opposition forces ahead of the 2027 general election.
“The information from the coalition is that Aregbesola is the coordinator for the South West. So, nothing has changed. You can see that the coalition is coalescing. They are still coming together,” he said.
Addressing the strong choice of Labour Party’s Peter Obi’s suggestion on a single-tenure presidency, stating that the idea sits well with the leaders of the coalition movement.
“Every individual have their own dream and aspiration. I think I heard Obi saying something about tackling the security crisis and strengthening the Nigerian economy and all that. There is no one in the coalition who doesn’t share that vision,” he stated.
He dished any insinuation of intra-competition with the coalition, stating that the unity within the movement was birthed by shared values and beliefs to achieve common goals, rather than personal ambition.
Ahead Of 2027 Polls: APC Replies Tinubu Critics
“It is not a competition. What Obi said is what all of them equally subscribed to. So, none will disagree with the vision. Individual interest is also part of politics — you can’t take it out. Politics is actually an interaction of collective and individual interests,” he explained.
“What we are witnessing is a realignment of forces to form a formidable opposition. You must have noticed that Tinubu has virtually destroyed the political party system in the country. Now, you really cannot tell which one is the ruling party or opposition.”
In his statement, he noted that the present flux in the political sphere is a ploy for a wider effort to come about a clear and active opposition.
“Everything going on now is about fashioning out a clear-cut opposition. It’s a fundamental rule of power. Let us see how it goes,” he added.
Babachir Lawal, former secretary to the Government of the Federation, expressed optimism about the operation and strength of the coalition.
“The coalition is still ongoing. We will tell Nigerians our position,” Lawal stated.
On the meeting between Atiku and other PDP leaders, the former SGF refused to disclose in-depth comment, stating: “I don’t want to get involved in PDP affairs.
“I am not their party member and can’t speak for them. I am in Adamawa at the moment.”
Reacting, also, to Obi’s single-tenure suggestion, noting it is a political tactic that must be ultimately evaluated by the electorate.
Ahead Of 2027 Polls: APC Replies Tinubu Critics
“Politicians have their strategies and plans. It’s not an issue. Even Buhari, whom some expected to do just four years, ended up completing eight,” he remarked.
