By: Ganiyu Olayinka
The immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, and Senator Rufa’i Hanga have cast doubt on the opposition’s ability to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, arguing that leading opposition figures lack the political structure and grassroots support required to secure victory.
Speaking at a public event in Kano, Ganduje said former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, do not possess the northern political base needed to defeat Tinubu.
“The North is strategic in every presidential election. With due respect to our friends in the opposition, neither Peter Obi nor Atiku Abubakar can mobilise enough support in this region to defeat President Tinubu in 2027,” he said.
Ganduje argued that, despite ongoing coalition efforts among opposition parties ahead of the election, both politicians lack the political machinery to make significant electoral gains across the North.
He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strengthen the requirements for political party registration. According to him, only parties with functional structures, clearly defined ideologies, and a broad national presence should be recognised. He maintained that stricter registration standards would strengthen Nigeria’s democracy by ensuring that only viable political parties participate in elections.
Similarly, Senator Hanga said the NDC’s reported presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso would face significant challenges in the 2027 election. His remarks came amid speculation that he could defect to the APC.
The Kano Central senator spoke during an interview with Freedom Radio following separate meetings with Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, meetings that fuelled reports of his possible departure from the NDC.
Hanga said he no longer believed the NDC could win the presidency, arguing that neither Obi nor Kwankwaso enjoys sufficient nationwide support.
“In the North, Obi has Kwankwaso as running mate, and Kwankwaso is only popular in Kano. Even now, his popularity is 50/50 because previously, while we were in the ADC, we had people in Katsina, Jigawa and Kaduna, but those people refused to join us in the NDC and remained in the ADC,” he said.
He further claimed that Obi’s political support is largely concentrated in Anambra State and parts of southern Nigeria. Hanga argued that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, would stand a better chance of defeating Tinubu in the North-West and North-East, citing growing public dissatisfaction over insecurity and economic hardship.
Addressing reports about his relationship with former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Hanga said choosing a different political path should not be interpreted as an act of betrayal.
“Now, if I leave Kwankwaso, nobody can say I betrayed anybody. If anyone says I betrayed someone, I will recommend that person be sent to Goron Dutse Prison or Dawanau Psychiatric Hospital,” he said.
Hanga added that he remained loyal to Kwankwaso even after Governor Yusuf left the movement and accompanied him on political engagements across the country. He also disclosed that he was outside Nigeria receiving medical treatment when the party announced Mustapha Kwankwaso as its deputy governorship candidate.