2027 presidential election an “elite contest”, says — APC chieftain

A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Farouk Aliyu, has described the 2027 presidential election as an “elite contest,” asserting that the current coalition of opposition figures poses no real threat to the ruling party or President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Monday, Aliyu downplayed the significance of the recently announced opposition alliance, which has adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its official political platform ahead of the next general election.

According to him, the coalition is largely composed of former APC members who are disgruntled over internal party issues, not a popular movement representing the broader interests of Nigerians.

“The coalition is merely a group of former APC members who have left the party. While they may not pose a threat to democracy, they certainly don’t pose a threat to the APC either. These individuals are simply aggrieved with the party,” Aliyu stated.

READ ALSO: Datti Baba-Ahmed warns of looming crisis over presidential ticket in ADC-led coalition

He emphasized that the political dynamics of 2027 differ significantly from those of 2015, when the APC successfully unseated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying that attempts to replicate such a victory by the opposition would not succeed.

“The coalescing of people against Tinubu and the APC will not succeed. 2027 is a different political landscape compared to 2015. This fight is not about Nigerians—it’s an elite contest,” he added.

Aliyu’s remarks come on the heels of a major political development in which prominent figures from the PDP, Labour Party, and disaffected APC members announced the formation of a coalition under the ADC. The alliance is aimed at unseating President Tinubu and ending the APC’s reign at the federal level in the next electoral cycle.

While the opposition coalition insists that it represents a new direction for Nigeria, political analysts have questioned its cohesiveness and long-term viability, especially given the divergent interests of its constituent members.

Aliyu’s comments reflect growing confidence within APC ranks that President Tinubu remains well-positioned for re-election, despite mounting criticism of his administration’s economic and security performance.