In a move that officially kickstarts the race to 2027, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as its sole presidential candidate for the upcoming general election. The endorsement, made during the APC National Policy and Development Summit in Abuja on Thursday, signals the governing party’s early campaign strategy and consolidates Tinubu’s hold on the political landscape.
But as the APC closes ranks around the incumbent, Nigeria’s opposition parties—the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)—are scrambling for unity in the face of internal strife and mounting defections.
With support from the APC National Working Committee, 22 governors, and National Assembly leadership, President Tinubu was officially declared the party’s sole candidate by National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje. Speaking at the summit, Ganduje emphasized the party’s readiness to secure victory through “fair, decisive, and strategic” means.
“We are committed to winning fairly. Our party machine is evolving into a political force that will sweep 2027,” Ganduje declared, adding that early preparations have commenced across the states with data-driven training for campaign teams.
President Tinubu, for his part, welcomed the endorsement and defended the wave of defections to his party. “You don’t blame people for jumping from a sinking ship. I expect more to come. This is a democracy. People are free to associate,” he said, referencing high-profile defections from the PDP to the APC.
The opposition, however, is in a state of flux. The PDP has suffered notable losses, including the defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and three Kebbi Senators. Most recently, Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno reportedly informed his cabinet of his decision to leave the PDP, asking his appointees to follow suit or resign. This development, yet to be officially confirmed, is seen as a significant blow to the opposition’s southern stronghold.
Sources suggest that Governor Eno cited admiration for President Tinubu’s leadership as a key reason for the shift, revealing plans to integrate Akwa Ibom into the APC’s national development framework.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party and PDP are mulling an alliance, with camps loyal to Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar reportedly in preliminary talks to select a unified candidate for 2027. Analysts say failure to close ranks could hand Tinubu an uncontested second term.
At the summit, Tinubu projected confidence in his economic agenda and political future, saying, “The hope is standing before you. We know the road, and we will lead you to the promised land.”
He promised sweeping economic reforms, accelerated industrialisation, and broader inclusion in governance. “To many of you I haven’t appointed yet, be patient. The next two years will be great. We are on a mission,” he assured party loyalists.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio echoed similar sentiments, mocking the PDP’s internal crises. “Their umbrella now has over 100 holes. Everything in the South-South is collapsing in your favour, Mr. President,” he quipped.
Despite the APC’s early declaration, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has yet to officially open the campaign window for 2027, a move usually reserved for post-convention announcements. The APC’s move is seen as a bold challenge to the electoral calendar, placing pressure on other parties to declare their intentions sooner.
In a swift response, PDP leaders dismissed the APC’s moves as political grandstanding. Acting PDP National Chairman Umar Damagum questioned the ruling party’s desperation to lure PDP members.
“If we’re irrelevant, why are they poaching our ranks?” Damagum asked.
National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba slammed APC leaders for lacking moral credibility, citing corruption allegations against Akpabio and Ganduje. “These are individuals who should be facing prosecution, not leading political parties,” he said.
He noted that while the PDP faces structural challenges, it possesses internal mechanisms to recover. “Nigerians are realigning with the PDP because the APC’s governance failure is visible across every sector.”
Former Senate President and PDP Board of Trustees Chair, Senator Adolphus Wabara, added that only the electorate would decide Tinubu’s fate in 2027, not endorsements made in closed-door summits.
As Nigeria edges closer to another critical election, the battle lines are clearly drawn. While Tinubu’s early endorsement consolidates the APC’s base, it also intensifies pressure on opposition leaders to overcome fragmentation and offer a viable alternative.
The 2027 election, though two years away, is already shaping into a referendum not just on Tinubu’s presidency, but on the resilience of Nigeria’s democratic opposition.