According to a report by The Sun on Saturday, May 9, 2026, the All Progressives Congress is heading into the 2027 general election with growing confidence as it controls 32 states across the country while opposition parties continue to struggle with internal divisions and efforts to rally behind a common presidential candidate.
Despite the strong position of the ruling party, a senior APC figure in Ekiti State, Senator Ayo Arise, cautioned that handling political success requires careful management, warning that complacency could create challenges for the party ahead of the polls.
Arise stated that President Bola Tinubu remains in a strong position to secure another term if the APC succeeds in presenting candidates who enjoy the support of the people at different levels of the election.
He also pointed to the crisis surrounding the African Democratic Congress, saying the internal instability within the party has weakened its chances of becoming a reliable platform for opposition politicians seeking to challenge the ruling party in 2027.
The APC chieftain also addressed concerns over the economic hardship being experienced by Nigerians, particularly issues linked to the tensions between Iran and the United States and their effect on global oil prices and the economy.
According to him, the economic situation and the hardship arising from international developments would not be enough to stop Tinubu from winning re-election, insisting that the President still enjoys significant political strength and support across the country.
Speaking further during the interview, Arise dismissed claims that the ruling APC and the Presidency were responsible for the inability of opposition parties to organise themselves effectively ahead of the next election cycle.
He said the frequent crises and disorganisation within opposition parties should not be blamed on the government, maintaining that every political party has the responsibility to build its own structures and manage its internal affairs properly.
He argued that opposition parties in Nigeria have made themselves vulnerable to outside influence because of their internal weaknesses and lack of unity.
According to him, successful opposition politics depends largely on discipline, organisation, and leadership within the parties themselves rather than accusations against those in power.
He maintained that parties seeking to challenge the APC must first resolve their own internal disagreements before expecting to present a credible challenge during the next presidential election.
The former lawmaker also drew comparisons with political developments in the United States, which he described as one of the world’s oldest democracies.
He noted that political rivalry exists in every democracy and argued that ruling parties are not expected to organise the opposition or help them become successful.
He insisted that it is the duty of opposition parties to remain strong and independent regardless of the political influence of the government in power.
He said, “America, which we copy, is the oldest democracy. I don’t think Donald Trump has been supporting the Democratic Party to get everything right. So, if you say the President has a hand in the crisis, it is because opposition parties have allowed themselves to be influenced. I don’t think the President should be the one organising opposition parties to be successful.”…….See More
Leave a Reply