The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has warned opposition parties that public dissatisfaction with President Bola Tinubu’s administration alone would not guarantee victory in the 2027 general elections, urging them to develop a clear political strategy and forge a united coalition.
The party’s spokesman, Seye Oladejo, described as politically naive the belief that economic hardship, public discontent and criticism of government policies would automatically translate into electoral success for the opposition.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Oladejo said winning elections required effective organisation, credible candidates, grassroots mobilisation, successful coalition-building and a convincing governance agenda, rather than simply exploiting public anger against an incumbent government.
He accused opposition parties of concentrating more on the challenges confronting the APC than on resolving their internal disputes and developing a credible alternative ahead of the 2027 polls.
“The opposition’s difficulties are compounded by the assumption that economic hardship, public dissatisfaction, and criticism of government policies will automatically translate into electoral victory,” he said.
“Public discontent may create an opportunity, but it does not determine which party will benefit from it.”
Oladejo further faulted opposition leaders for their inability to reconcile personal ambitions, leadership disputes and disagreements over party platforms, power-sharing arrangements and the selection of candidates.
He argued that while opposition figures often unite in their criticism of Tinubu, they struggle to sustain that unity when faced with decisions about leadership and the coordination of a common electoral campaign.
In contrast, the APC spokesman said the ruling party was strengthening its political structures and broadening its alliances under Tinubu’s leadership.
He pointed to the party’s 31 governors and the participation of influential politicians from other parties in the President’s re-election campaign as evidence of Tinubu’s capacity to build alliances beyond the APC.
Oladejo cited Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who was elected on the platform of the Accord Party, as an example, noting that he had been appointed coordinator of Tinubu’s presidential campaign in the state. He also mentioned Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, elected under the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, who was assigned a coordinating role in Anambra.
The spokesman also referred to campaign responsibilities given to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State and the FCT.
According to Oladejo, the appointments demonstrate Tinubu’s ability to bring influential political figures together without requiring them to relinquish their party affiliations.
He said the APC’s network of governors, experienced politicians, grassroots mobilisers and campaign strategists provided the party with considerable organisational strength ahead of the elections.
However, Oladejo cautioned that the presence of prominent politicians would not, on its own, guarantee victory, stressing that their influence must translate into coordinated mobilisation and effective governance.
He challenged opposition parties to go beyond criticising the President by demonstrating their ability to manage internal disagreements, establish a common direction and offer Nigerians a credible alternative.
“A shared dislike of an incumbent is not a governing philosophy. A collection of presidential ambitions is not a coalition. Nor does assembling a list of famous politicians automatically produce an electoral machine capable of winning a national contest,” he said.
Oladejo also warned his party against becoming complacent, stressing that political endorsements and alliances did not automatically translate into votes.
He said the APC would ultimately be judged by its performance in government, the effectiveness of its policies, improvements in citizens’ welfare and its ability to ease economic pressures.
According to him, the outcome of the 2027 elections would be shaped by political organisation, persuasion, credibility and the competing visions presented to Nigerians, rather than simply the number of prominent politicians backing either side.
He maintained that opposition parties must address their leadership disputes and organisational weaknesses if they hope to mount a serious challenge against the ruling APC.
2027: Opposition can’t defeat Tinubu on public anger alone – Lagos APC