.png)
.png)
6 hours ago
4
Editor's note: In this piece, Ezinwanne Onwuka dissects the quiescent but calculated moves reshaping Nigeria’s governmental landscape. She traces however defections, powerfulness plays, and elite endorsements are mounting the signifier for an unpredictable 2027 contest.
The twelvemonth 2027, the adjacent wide predetermination rhythm successful Nigeria, is inactive 18 months away, yet predetermination drums are already beating softly successful the background. Support groups person begun mounting run billboards, and 1 that precocious caught my attraction boldly read:
“Tinubu for President 2027.”
Source: Twitter
While 1 mightiness beryllium speedy to disregard specified a motion from overzealous supporters, it is, successful fact, a reflection of what is softly unfolding wrong the corridors of power.
Nigerians request nary prophet, Imam, oregon soothsayer to dependable the alarm that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is nary longer conscionable managing the affairs of the country, and that helium is actively gathering momentum for a 2nd term. From sweeping endorsements by apical politicians to the dependable watercourse of defections from absorption parties into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), it is becoming progressively wide that Tinubu is positioning himself for different changeable astatine the presidency. And if caller developments are thing to spell by, helium is not walking alone.
On 22 May 2025, the APC held a National Summit successful Abuja wherever Nigerians witnessed the authoritative motorboat of Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid. The question to follow him arsenic the party’s sole campaigner was moved by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and seconded by Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani. This was followed by the National Assembly’s endorsement, with Senate President Godswill Akpabio moving the question and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, seconding it. These endorsements were subsequently ratified by the party’s National Working Committee, chaired astatine the clip by Abdullahi Ganduje, who declared:
“As the lone assemblage who has the powerfulness to tract immoderate candidate, I hereby affirm the assorted endorsements and state President Tinubu arsenic the sole statesmanlike campaigner of APC.”The lawsuit of that time was not conscionable a casual nod. For the enactment enactment and members, the unanimous endorsement was a reward for what they presumption arsenic important achievements halfway into Tinubu’s archetypal term. For the avoidance of doubt, the achievements see the President’s ‘tough but necessary’ decision—like helium usually says—to region substance subsidy, the unification of speech rates, the implementation of a caller minimum wage, and the caller taxation laws.
Despite the barrage of criticisms against the medication for the economical hardship galore Nigerians are inactive experiencing owed to the administration's policies, Tinubu’s interior ellipse remains convinced helium is the champion antheral to aviator the affairs of the state. They are leaving nary chromatic unturned to guarantee his re-election “fairly, decisively and strategically” (in Ganduje’s words). Whether this is truly astir President Tinubu’s achievements oregon a governmental maneuver to support the weakened opposition, particularly the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), retired of powerfulness is blurry. What is certain, however, is that the groundwork for Tinubu’s re-election is successful motion.
As Ganduje revealed,
“The APC is deploying aboriginal engagement strategies by strengthening authorities chapters, grooming polling portion agents and ineligible teams, arsenic good arsenic mobilising youths and women astatine the grassroots…. They are a reflection of our nationalist momentum and a rehearsal for full triumph successful 2027.”
Source: Twitter
The results of these “early engagement strategies” are becoming manifest and truthful glaring with the tsunami of defections from absorption parties to the ruling APC.
In caller weeks, governors, lawmakers, and adjacent once-vocal critics from the PDP and Labour Party person crossed implicit to the APC. Among them are large names similar Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno, Delta Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and adjacent erstwhile PDP vice-presidential campaigner Ifeanyi Okowa. At the National Assembly, it is the aforesaid story. Over a twelve lawmakers from assorted states person followed suit. It seems the APC is not conscionable getting stronger from within, it is swallowing its rivals too.
To the APC, these defections are a validation of their governance and an affirmation of nationalist assurance successful Tinubu’s leadership. President Tinubu himself has openly welcomed the defectors, saying, “You don’t blasted radical for bailing retired of a sinking ship.” Given the spate of defections, the APC presently controls 23 retired of 36 states, holds the presidency, and commands a comfy bulk successful the National Assembly. If the absorption keeps hemorrhaging members astatine this pace, they mightiness person small accidental of unseating the ruling enactment successful 2027.
Nonetheless, the absorption is not silent. A counterforce led by erstwhile Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, perennial statesmanlike contender Atiku Abubakar, and erstwhile Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi is softly forming. Describing Tinubu’s medication arsenic 1 defined by deepening poverty, rising insecurity, economical stagnation, and organization decay, the trio is determined to “rescue Nigeria from systemic collapse.” There is involvement from others with a akin goal, too, arsenic the Independent National Electoral Commission has revealed that it has received applications from 110 caller governmental parties seeking registration up of 2027.
This brewing governmental contention and nationalist discontent with the Tinubu medication acceptable the signifier for a historical electoral showdown, 1 that volition find whether helium shall clasp oregon suffer his seat. Since Nigeria’s instrumentality to ideology successful 1999, lone 1 sitting president (Goodluck Jonathan) has failed to unafraid re-election. Interestingly, the ghosts of 2015 hover implicit the Tinubu presidency, and if the increasing discontent translates to votes, 2027 could people the 2nd clip an incumbent president is voted retired of office. Yet, portion the absorption is strategising to equine a formidable challenge, the ruling party’s entrenched stronghold and power implicit the institutions captious to the antiauthoritarian process, namely the information agencies, the judiciary, and the electoral commission, whitethorn springiness the incumbent an edge.
So, whether it is by endorsements, enactment defections, oregon governmental realignments, 1 happening is clear: President Tinubu’s 2027 travel has begun. And for now, the tide is with him. But arsenic we know, successful politics, tides tin change, and they alteration fast. With this successful mind, fto america ticker what happens betwixt present and 2027, peculiarly successful 2027.
Ezinwanne writes via [email protected].Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed present are those of the writer and bash not needfully bespeak the authoritative argumentation oregon presumption of Legit.ng.
PAY ATTENTION: Сheck retired quality that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” artifact connected the location leafage and enjoy!
Source: Legit.ng
