Politics
2027: APC fires back as Mark, Lamido, Atiku slam Tinubu’s government
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed the emerging opposition coalition aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu in 2027, describing the movement as a recycled alliance of failed politicians with no real threat to its electoral dominance.
This reaction followed a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday by prominent figures of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Senate President David Mark, and former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, who issued a strongly worded communiqué criticising the Tinubu-led government as a national failure.
Multiple sources confirmed that the coalition, which plans to contest the 2027 elections under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), is steadily taking shape. The group has reportedly chosen Senator David Mark to serve as its interim national chairman, with a formal unveiling scheduled for Wednesday.
Participants at the meeting, held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, included top PDP chieftains such as former party chairman Uche Secondus; ex-governors Aminu Tambuwal, Liyel Imoke, Babangida Aliyu, and Sam Egwu; Senator Ben Obi; former Women Leader Josephine Anenih; ex-publicity secretary Kola Ologbondiyan; and former youth leader Abdullahi Maibasira, among others.
In their communiqué, the opposition leaders lamented what they called Nigeria’s rapid decline under the APC, urging Nigerians to rally behind a new coalition that promises to restore the country’s stability, economy, and international standing.
“The APC, which rode to power on the back of propaganda to rescue Nigeria from the PDP, has now plunged the country into deeper disaster,” the communiqué read. “The time has come to unite and rescue the country.”
The coalition decried the state of the PDP, accusing the party’s leadership of failing to adhere to its constitution and regulations, which they said had led to internal chaos and weakened its ability to act as a viable opposition.
They also blamed the APC-led federal government for allegedly weaponising state institutions to stifle dissent, blackmail elected officials, and destabilise the opposition through coercion and inducement.
“Since the exit of Dr Iyorchia Ayu as national chairman and the party’s defeat in the 2023 presidential election, the PDP has lost its footing,” the communiqué stated. “Its founding vision as a unifying force and a global player has been eroded. Nigeria today is a shadow of itself, suffering from a collapsed economy, insecurity, and poor international image.”
According to the coalition, many PDP members would continue to retain their membership of the party but would support the ADC presidential candidate as part of a broader political realignment.
The opposition group also emphasised unity around core national issues such as security, economy, democracy, and the fight against corruption, pledging to work out strategies for winning future elections.
In a swift response, APC Director of Publicity Bala Ibrahim dismissed the coalition as a gathering of politically irrelevant figures with no fresh ideas or popular support.
Describing the movement as “dead on arrival,” Ibrahim said the APC was not threatened by a coalition led by individuals who had been previously defeated at the polls and would face another defeat in 2027.
“These people are coming together for selfish reasons. Their ambition is not rooted in the welfare of Nigerians but in their personal political survival,” he said.
Ibrahim mocked the opposition leaders for being able to meet freely in luxury hotels without fear, arguing that this alone was proof that President Tinubu’s administration had improved security and the nation’s power supply.
“If the country were as bad as they claim, they wouldn’t have the freedom to meet openly. Their gathering itself is a testament to the progress made under the APC government,” he said.
Reiterating confidence in Tinubu’s re-election, Ibrahim maintained that Nigerians would reject the coalition’s “recycled failures” in 2027.
“They have no ideological coherence, no vision, and no momentum. President Tinubu will beat them again, just as he did in 2023,” he declared.
As the political temperature begins to rise ahead of the 2027 general elections, both camps are preparing for what promises to be a fiercely contested battle, with realignments and defections likely to reshape Nigeria’s political landscape.
