The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has played down opposition efforts to form a united front ahead of the 2027 general elections, branding the initiative as a nonstarter.
Speaking to reporters on Friday after leading members of the APC’s National Working Committee on a Sallah visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Ganduje dismissed the coalition talks spearheaded by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other key political figures.
When asked about the growing speculation surrounding the alliance, Ganduje waved it off, asserting confidence in the ruling party’s resilience and political dominance.
He highlighted the APC’s control of 21 states and described it as the most formidable political force in West Africa. The party, he stressed, is not only maintaining its current position but actively working to expand its influence before the next election cycle.
Ganduje also hinted at strategic moves in play to win over more states, either through defections or at the ballot box. “We are comfortable, but we are not resting. We shall continue,” he said.
The remarks came hours after Atiku visited Buhari, accompanied by a high-profile delegation including former governors Nasir el-Rufai, Aminu Tambuwal, Gabriel Suswam, Jibrilla Bindow, and Achike Udenwa.
Atiku and his delegation insisted the visit was purely a post-Sallah courtesy, distancing it from any political agenda. El-Rufai also emphasized it was a routine visit, unrelated to any strategic political realignment.
Still, the flurry of visits to the former president’s Daura home — including by several APC governors earlier in the week — has stoked speculation about possible shifts and alliances forming in preparation for 2027. As the political chessboard begins to take shape, both ruling and opposition camps appear to be quietly gearing up for the long game.
