The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has dismissed speculations about a possible coalition among opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections. He confidently described the alliance as a flawed and ineffective arrangement, predicting its failure long before the elections take place.

Ganduje made these comments on Friday while addressing journalists in Kaduna State after leading members of the APC National Working Committee on a Sallah homage to former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Ganduje Downplays Opposition Threats

Responding to questions on the reported political realignments involving major opposition figures, particularly former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Ganduje firmly downplayed any potential challenge to the ruling APC.

“We are not worried at all. This is just history trying to repeat itself,” he stated, recalling previous failed attempts at opposition unity. “They went on a joint venture, which will not work because, from what we have seen, there are just some particles that cannot come together.”

According to him, the idea of a merger between rival opposition leaders is merely theoretical and lacks the internal cohesion and political discipline necessary for success. He dismissed it as a political gamble lacking strategy while maintaining that the APC has the tactical expertise to confront any such challenge.

“It is a game, and we will not reveal our technicalities on how to handle it, but we assure you, we are equal to the task,” he added confidently.

APC’s Political Grip Remains Strong

Ganduje went on to highlight the ruling party’s nationwide dominance, boasting about the APC’s control of 21 states across the country. He declared that the APC remains not only the most formidable party in Nigeria but also the strongest political organization in West Africa.

“We are eyeing other states that will come into our fold. Either the governors themselves will come, or we go for election and defeat them to increase our tally. We are comfortable, but we are not resting. We shall continue,” Ganduje said, hinting at future political expansion.

His remarks underscored the party’s strategic focus on consolidating existing strongholds while making calculated efforts to capture new territory before the 2027 general elections.

Opposition Moves Spark Political Interest

Ganduje’s statement came shortly after Atiku Abubakar paid a post-Sallah visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari, a development that raised eyebrows within political circles. Atiku, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was accompanied by several influential politicians, including:

• Nasir el-Rufai, former Governor of Kaduna State

• Aminu Tambuwal, former Governor of Sokoto State

• Gabriel Suswam, former Governor of Benue State

• Jibrilla Bindow, former Governor of Adamawa State

• Achike Udenwa, former Governor of Imo State

The high-profile visit fueled speculations that a major opposition coalition might be in the works as key figures across party lines appear to be reconnecting and exploring avenues for collaboration.

Atiku Clarifies Visit, Hints at Unity Talks

Speaking to reporters after the visit, Atiku clarified that the delegation’s visit to Buhari was purely a Sallah courtesy call and not a political mission. However, he did not completely rule out the possibility of an opposition merger.

“There is a plan for the major political parties to come together and form a strong opposition, but it is not part of our visit,” he explained. While downplaying the political intent of the meeting, his admission confirmed that discussions around an opposition alliance are actively taking place behind the scenes.

This acknowledgment reinforced growing indications that the opposition may be working toward a consolidated front to counter the APC’s dominance in 2027.

Historical Echoes and Future Projections

The idea of opposition mergers in Nigeria is not new. Before the 2015 elections, multiple parties—including the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)—successfully merged to form the APC. That coalition unseated the then-ruling PDP and brought Muhammadu Buhari to power.

However, subsequent attempts at replicating such alliances by the opposition have largely failed due to ideological differences, leadership tussles, and weak internal structures.

As the political climate begins to heat up ahead of the 2027 general elections, the ruling APC appears confident in its ability to retain power. Ganduje’s dismissive tone suggests that the party is focused on both safeguarding its current strongholds and making aggressive moves to expand its reach.

Final Thoughts

The evolving dynamics between Nigeria’s ruling and opposition parties point to an eventful road ahead. While Ganduje projects an air of confidence and dismisses the proposed opposition merger as a non-starter, Atiku’s confirmation that talks are underway signals that some political recalibration is indeed taking shape. Whether these realignments will coalesce into a credible challenge to APC’s supremacy remains to be seen.

For now, the APC leadership is determined to portray strength, unity, and readiness for 2027, while the opposition continues to quietly gather momentum. The coming months will likely reveal whether Nigeria’s political terrain is heading for yet another major shakeup.