The Federal Government has rejected claims by opposition figures Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso that President Bola Tinubu could be defeated in the 2027 presidential election, insisting that the All Progressives Congress (APC) remains confident of retaining power.
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, made the position known during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday.
Musa specifically expressed confidence that the APC would win not only the presidential election but also the governorship and other elections in Kaduna State. He dismissed suggestions that the ruling party was losing support in northern Nigeria, describing such claims largely as a matter of perception.
Obi and Kwankwaso challenge APC
The minister’s comments followed statements by Peter Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, at a town hall meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Obi warned that Nigerians would not allow their votes to be manipulated during the 2027 elections. He expressed confidence that their political movement could secure victory in Rivers State and across the country.
Kwankwaso, meanwhile, argued that having a large number of governors does not automatically guarantee victory in a presidential election. He cited the 2015 election, when then-President Goodluck Jonathan lost despite being the sitting president.
APC remains confident
Musa rejected the suggestion that northern voters were turning against President Tinubu and the APC. He maintained that the administration’s economic policies would eventually produce benefits that Nigerians would recognise.
The APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, also dismissed the opposition’s predictions, describing them as “cheap talk” and “wishful thinking.” He said the party was confident that Nigerians would re-elect Tinubu in 2027.
The exchange highlights the increasingly competitive political atmosphere ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with the ruling party and opposition groups already seeking to convince voters of their chances.
Why it matters
The disagreement shows that the 2027 presidential race is already becoming a major political battle, with the APC defending its record and opposition figures seeking to build a coalition capable of challenging the incumbent.
