Opposition yet to present credible challenge to Tinubu, APC chieftain says

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdulhakeem Adegoke Alawuje, has argued that Nigeria’s opposition parties have yet to demonstrate the unity, structure and political organisation required to pose a serious challenge to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement made available to journalists, Alawuje said many Nigerians had become distracted by what he described as the “daily noise” of politics while overlooking the deeper realities shaping the country’s political landscape.

According to him, opposition leaders had remained prominent in public discourse since the 2023 elections through criticisms of the government, coalition discussions, press conferences and political engagements.

However, he questioned whether any opposition figure was currently positioned to mount a credible challenge against President Tinubu.

“The opposition’s biggest challenge is not Tinubu; it is the opposition itself,” Alawuje stated, arguing that internal divisions and rivalries continued to weaken efforts to build a formidable alternative to the ruling party.

He noted that electoral victories were typically determined by political structures, strategic alliances, organisational strength and experience rather than public sentiment expressed on social media or through media appearances.

Alawuje described President Tinubu as one of the most formidable politicians in Nigeria’s democratic history, citing his longstanding influence and political network across the country.

The APC chieftain also referenced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, suggesting that few politicians understood Tinubu’s political strengths better than the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart due to their decades of involvement in Nigeria’s political system.

He further argued that aspects of Atiku’s presidential ambitions had been shaped by his past political disagreements with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, adding that some political battles often had long-lasting consequences.

Commenting on the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, Alawuje acknowledged the enthusiasm generated by Obi’s supporters but maintained that political popularity had to be matched by nationwide structures and effective grassroots organisation.

While noting the growing conversations around opposition coalitions, he said the opposition remained fragmented and had yet to present a coherent and united vision capable of competing with the political machinery of the ruling APC.

“Today, the ruling party appears more comfortable than ever because the opposition has yet to produce a coherent alternative capable of matching its political machinery,” he said.

Alawuje urged political observers to assess developments through what he described as factual political analysis rather than emotion, stressing that political power was secured through preparation, strategy, discipline and organisation.

He said that, based on current realities, President Tinubu appeared to have a smoother path towards the 2027 election than any of his potential challengers, unless the opposition underwent a significant transformation in the coming years, adding, “Politics rewards preparation, not noise.”