Senator Shehu Sani, a senior member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has predicted a decisive victory for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections—provided the opposition remains fragmented. Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, May 8, Sani said the disunity among opposition parties and continued defections to the APC could pave the way for an easy win for the ruling party.
According to the former Kaduna Central senator, a coalition is essential for any serious challenge to the APC. “There is no way you can evict a ruling party without a coalition. The opposition must put aside narrow political interests and ambitions for the greater good of democracy,” he said.
Sani pointed out that key opposition parties, including the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), have so far shown no interest in working together. “The SDP, PDP, Labour Party, and NNPP have all distanced themselves from forming any coalition. If they go into the 2027 elections separately, the APC will win by a landslide,” he stated.
He stressed that a united opposition could significantly alter the political landscape, noting that the lack of unity was a key reason for their 2023 loss. “If they come together, they could win many seats and make a strong impact. But if they don’t, 2027 is a done deal for the APC,” Sani declared.
The senator also criticized the ideological shallowness of Nigerian political parties, attributing it to the rampant and often unchallenged defections. “Political parties in Nigeria are merely platforms for personal ambition. Their manifestos are nearly identical, which makes crossing over from one to another easy and without consequences,” he said.
Sani argued that it’s not the responsibility of the ruling APC to prevent defections from opposition parties. “It’s up to the opposition to maintain internal unity and keep their members. If a party is in disarray, it’s not Asiwaju’s job to hold it together,” he asserted.
He warned of further defections to the APC, particularly from the PDP, due to unresolved leadership issues and internal crises. “People are not being pulled to the APC—they are being pushed out of the PDP. Their leadership problems, including the confusion over who holds key positions, are driving members away.”
Citing the Supreme Court’s vague ruling on the PDP leadership crisis, Sani noted that many PDP politicians fear instability heading into the primaries. “With two factions vying for control, candidates won’t know which form to pick or whose authority to follow. That uncertainty is pushing people out,” he explained.
In conclusion, Sani predicted more political realignments in favor of the APC, warning that unless the opposition resolves its internal conflicts and unites, President Tinubu’s re-election is virtually guaranteed.
