The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have engaged in a war of words over what the latter described as premature campaigns ahead of the 2027 presidential elections.
Daily Trust reports that several groups, including some opposition governors, have endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term. During a summit held in Abuja four months ago, APC governors, members of its National Working Committee and National Assembly adopted Tinubu as the party’s sole candidate.
At the 2025 Southern Summit of former legislators held at the weekend in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the ex-federal lawmakers and party leaders from all six geo-political zones also endorsed the president’s second term bid.
The PDP, in a statement on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, alleged that the APC was desperately “shopping for endorsements.” He also alleged that the APC was getting panicky saying, “The president and APC are looking for endorsement.”
But reacting yesterday, the APC dismissed the claims, saying that the endorsements reflected broad acceptance of Tinubu’s leadership.
The spokesman of the Lagos State chapter of the APC, Seye Oladejo, in a statement, said the party was amused by the PDP’s reaction.
He stated: “The only people in panic mode are those with an empty shell called a party. Panic is when a party that once boasted of being Africa’s largest is now reduced to an empty kiosk, preparing for a convention as if preparing for World War III due to threats within,” he said.
“For APC, the journey continues. For PDP, the panic continues. APC builds, PDP bleeds,” he added.
He accused the PDP of struggling to keep its members intact, saying “If there is any party on a shopping spree, it is the PDP– desperately shopping for presidential candidates as a reflection of its lack of depth.”
According to Oladejo, the defections from the opposition party to the APC show where real support lies.
“Today, the only news the so-called largest political party in Africa looks forward to is the story of which of its governors has crossed over to the ruling party. That, unambiguously, is the true definition of panic.
“For avoidance of doubt, every endorsement of President Tinubu is another confirmation that 2027 is a settled matter,” Oladejo said.
He accused the PDP of wasting Nigeria’s wealth during its 16 years in power.
He also alleged that the PDP had been reduced to “shouting from the sidelines while Tinubu bears the burden of reforms.”
PDP’s allegations
The PDP’s national publicity secretary, Ologunagba, had earlier in a statement, alleged that the APC was jittery about ongoing reforms in the PDP ahead of its November 15–16 national convention.
“If indeed the president is doing well and the APC is succeeding, you let your work speak for you. You don’t want to say come and endorse me. So, it is panic mode. The fact is that they are not doing well, they have failed, and they recognise that Nigeria truly knows that this APC has failed the country.
“But thank God the PDP is back, fully set, taking the November 15 and 16 national convention as its platform to launch itself back to Nigeria, and Nigerians are waiting eagerly, and that’s why each time we speak, they’re excited. They are anxious to get us back to where we are.
“So the panic mode of the APC government at present is a sign of a failed government. That you know that your policy is not working, and you say, let’s spin it, let’s gaslight it. This is not working because Nigerians have seen through it. So all the endorsements, all the shopping endorsements, let your work endorse you,” the PDP’s spokesman had stated.
Both parties driven by self-interests – Analysts
Speaking to Daily Trust last night, the national president of the Nigerian Political Science Association, Professor Hassan Saliu, said Nigerian politicians are largely driven by self-interest rather than the welfare of the people.
According to him, grabbing and retaining power is what matters most to them, while the needs of citizens are relegated to the background.
“It is the same game after every election cycle. Nobody is telling us about any revolutionary ideas when they are voted into office. Those in government are preoccupied with consolidating power, while the opposition has not offered any concrete plans or implementation strategies.
“What we see instead is the ruling government praising itself for stabilising the economy, but the reality on the streets paints a different picture. Citizens are grappling with insecurity and poor purchasing power while politicians are not bothered,” he said.
Saliu said with 2027 already in view, all political platforms appear more focused on capturing power than improving lives, urging citizens to exercise restraint in their expectations.
For Associate Professor Sikiru Lanre Nurudeen, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, the desperation of politicians to retain power is not new.
He noted that while it is within the right of incumbents to seek re-election and the opposition to try to discredit them, as seen between the APC and PDP, the electorate remain the final arbiter to determine which party is truly serious.
“With the high level of poverty and the fact that many politicians have no other vocation apart from politics, they use the 2027 elections to distract the people from their failures in governance. This is what is happening now,” he said.
Ezekiel Adeyi, a professor of Governance, Identity Politics and Development Communication at the University of Jos, in an interview with Daily Trust yesterday, said the APC and the PDP were not focused on the well-being of the country.
He said, “Definitely these people – both the opposition and those in government, are not thinking of service delivery. They are not thinking of improving democratic governance. What they are all after is power. They want to grab power. And all the gladiators are singing same song of power.
“They don’t care about insecurity. They don’t care about exchange rate. They don’t care about the welfare of the citizens. If the parties in government at state or federal levels want to retain power, the ideal thing for them is not seeking endorsement, but ensuring good governance, making education and security work.
“The problem is not with the politicians alone but with the electorates too because people easily forget things. People work on sentiments. And once politicians come and say the race for 2027 is on, they will not ask themselves how they can improve their lives?”
INEC raises red flag
The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, had during a roundtable discussion on the challenges of early political campaigns, held in Abuja last Wednesday, decried the increasing cases of early political campaigns across the country, describing them a clear breach of Nigeria’s electoral laws and threat to democratic governance.
Yakubu had said although Section 94(2) of the Electoral Act 2022 imposes a maximum fine of N500,000 for campaigning within 24 hours of an election, “there is no sanction whatsoever concerning breaches for campaigns earlier than 150 days to an election . Here lies the challenge for the commission in dealing with early campaign.”
He referenced Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which clearly prohibits the commencement of campaigns earlier than 150 days before polling day and requires all campaign activities to end 24 hours before voting begins.
“Political parties, candidates and their supporters seem to be perpetually in election mood even when the electoral commission is yet to release the timetable and schedule of activities for elections,” the INEC chairman had said.
Atiku meets US ambassador in Abuja
Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Tuesday led some of his allies on a courtesy visit to the United States Ambassador, Richard M. Mills Jr., in Abuja.
Atiku disclosed this in a post on his Facebook page where he also shared pictures of the meeting.
Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2023 general elections, said the discussion centred on partnership between Nigeria and the United States, particularly in the areas of democracy and security.
He wrote: “This afternoon (yesterday), I had the honour of leading a delegation on a courtesy visit to the United States Ambassador, Richard M. Mills Jr., in Abuja.
“Our discussion focused on strengthening the enduring partnership between Nigeria and the United States, particularly in the areas of advancing democracy, security, and promoting shared prosperity.”
Atiku recently dumped the PDP and has been in the vanguard of a coalition that would challenge the APC in the 2027 general elections.
Analysts say political leaders, especially those seeking higher offices tend to have interface with foreign powers in order to boost their rating.
Ahead of the 2015, 2019 and 2023 general elections, presidential candidates had separately travelled outside the country- some of them to the United Kingdom and others to the United States, among others where they held meetings with leaders, democratic institutions and opinion moulders.
DAILY TRUST.
