The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will decisively defeat any coalition formed by opposition leaders including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai in the 2027 presidential election.
Basiru made this assertion on Wednesday in a strongly worded statement where he dismissed the coalition efforts as weak and lacking genuine national interest. He described President Tinubu as the “grandmaster of coalitions,” emphasizing the President’s historical expertise in alliance-building, which he believes gives the APC a significant edge heading into the next general election.
His comments come on the heels of a strategic meeting held by opposition figures on Tuesday night, where Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, and others discussed modalities for launching a unified coalition to unseat President Tinubu in 2027. El-Rufai, speaking after the meeting, vowed that the alliance would “return Tinubu to Lagos,” insinuating that he would be voted out of Aso Rock.
However, Basiru, responding to the development, scoffed at the opposition’s ambition, asserting that their political arithmetic is flawed.
“They are not forming any serious coalition. And if they are, President Tinubu is the grandmaster of coalitions,” Basiru said. “He was a chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which was the mother of coalitions that fought to remove the military from power. So, how can they think they can challenge a man with such legacy and political dexterity?”
The APC scribe further recalled that it was Tinubu who played a key role in orchestrating the alliance that birthed the APC—a merger of key parties including the ACN, CPC, ANPP, and factions of APGA and PDP—leading to the historic defeat of an incumbent president in 2015.
According to Basiru, the current opposition coalition lacks ideological foundation and is instead driven by desperation and a misplaced sense of entitlement to power.
“If they believed they won the 2023 election, why are they now forming a coalition for 2027? The truth is they lost, and by God’s grace, they will lose again. President Tinubu will secure reelection through the strength of his track record and the trust Nigerians continue to place in him.”
He continued, “This so-called coalition is not inspired by any patriotic zeal to rescue Nigeria. It is simply a desperate bid by disgruntled politicians who feel entitled to power. Nigerians must not be deceived by such self-serving alliances.”
Coalition Rumblings and Political Calculations
The move by Atiku, Obi, and El-Rufai to form a united front has stirred political speculations, with analysts viewing it as a potential game-changer. Atiku and Obi, who were both leading candidates in the 2023 elections, have yet to publicly announce a formal merger, but ongoing discussions suggest a broader opposition realignment is in the works.
However, the involvement of former APC stalwart El-Rufai has raised eyebrows. His fallout with Tinubu has been widely rumored, though neither party has officially confirmed any rift.
Political observers believe that any successful opposition coalition would require bridging ideological and personality differences between leaders like Atiku and Obi—two figures with distinct political trajectories and core voter bases.
Despite these talks, the ruling APC appears unfazed. Basiru’s confidence reflects the party’s internal strategy to consolidate its base and counter any external threats. He noted that Tinubu’s administration is already rolling out reforms to stabilize the economy, improve national security, and attract investments—pillars on which his 2027 campaign will likely be built.
> “Nigerians will not gamble with their future by handing power to a coalition of failed candidates. They remember who stood with them through economic restructuring and tough decisions. President Tinubu is rebuilding Nigeria’s foundation, and the results will speak louder by 2027,” Basiru added.
As political temperatures rise ahead of 2027, the power game between the ruling APC and the emerging opposition coalition is expected to intensify. While the opposition plots a strategic comeback, the APC, led by its national secretary, is banking on President Tinubu’s legacy, political experience, and leadership credentials to retain power.
Whether the opposition can overcome internal rivalries and forge a truly united front remains to be seen. What is certain, however, is that the battle for Nigeria’s presidency in 2027 has already begun.