As the coalition meant to oust President Bola Tinubu from power gains momentum, the All Progressives Congress has asserted that the President will emerge victorious in the 2027 election. APC spokesman, Bala Ibrahim, described the coalition, whose leaders met in Abuja on Tuesday, as “dead on arrival.”
Multiple sources within the coalition movement revealed their plans to adopt the African Democratic Congress as their political platform, confirming earlier reports. This comes as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Senate President David Mark, former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, and other figures within the Peoples Democratic Party labeled the ruling APC a disaster to the nation.
“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 administration in a communiqué issued after their meeting held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
The statement, signed by David Mark, called on party members and Nigerians at large to support the emerging coalition aimed at defeating the APC in the 2027 presidential election. In addition to Atiku and Lamido, other PDP stalwarts present at the meeting included former PDP National Chairman Uche Secondus and former Governors Aminu Tambuwal, Liyel Imoke, Babangida Aliyu, and Dr. Sam Egwu.
The Tinubu administration has come under severe censure over the economic and security challenges facing the country. Ironically, the main opposition parties, including the PDP, Labour Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, and Social Democratic Party, have been battling internal divisions of their own.
In a move to mount a serious challenge ahead of the 2027 elections, former Vice President Atiku, LP’s Peter Obi, ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and others unveiled a new political coalition in Abuja on March 20. The development sparked widespread national discourse on the prospects of a unified opposition.
The coalition issued a communiqué encouraging all well-meaning PDP members and other patriotic Nigerians to join. They emphasized the importance of unity on issues of national security, democracy, and the economy while working to stamp out corruption.
The meeting also addressed the troubling state of the PDP, which has struggled to regain its footing since the party’s defeat in the last presidential election. The group expressed concern about the actions of the APC-led Federal Government and its impact on democracy.
Mark, Atiku, and other PDP leaders decried the current state of Nigeria, describing it as weakened and a source of embarrassment in the international community. They lamented the collapse of development indices that support citizens’ quality of life.
An insider revealed that many PDP leaders had decided to support the ADC candidate while retaining their PDP membership. This indicates a personal alliance with the ADC as they seek to challenge the APC in the upcoming elections.
In response, APC Director of Publicity Bala Ibrahim stated that the coalition members had been defeated in the past and expressed confidence that President Tinubu would defeat them again in 2027. He characterized the coalition as composed of individuals with selfish motivations.
Senator Abba Moro described the meeting of opposition figures as a gathering aimed at achieving a national purpose, while PDP chieftain Segun Sowunmi stated that the PDP was now able to plan for the battle ahead.
Overall, the coalition’s efforts represent a significant realignment in Nigeria’s political landscape as parties seek to mount a challenge against the ruling APC in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.
