•Ganduje and Jibrin
Major opposition parties in the country yesterday flayed leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for serially endorsing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term of office.
APC bigwigs have in recent times use every available avenue to praise the Tinubu administration and endorse him for re-election in 2027, reports Daily Trust.
Reacting to the endorsement of the president by the APC leaders in the North West at the weekend, in Kaduna, opposition parties, which spoke with our correspondent fumed over the development.
The APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, governors who are members of the party from the zone including Uba Sani of Kaduna State, Nasir Idris (Kebbi), and Umar Namadi (Jigawa) attended the meeting.
Others were the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Tajudeen Abbas; Deputy President of the Senate, Barau I Jibrin, Ministers from the zone, chairmen of state chapters of APC, state and federal legislators and heads of federal agencies.
No vacancy in Aso Rock – Barau, Ganduje
The foundation for Tinubu’s endorsement was laid when the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, asked, ”Aso Rock?” and the crowd responded, “No vacancy.”
Barau said, “It is clear in 2027, we will have a landslide victory, Insha Allah. So, let us continue on the way we are going. Let us cooperate with one another, work with the president, work with everybody, cooperate amongst ourselves to have the desired victory.”
Senator Barau further said the defection of some leaders of opposition parties to the APC was a result of President Tinubu’s performance barely two years in office.
Similarly, Ganduje said President Tinubu is committed to developing the North West, the entire northern region and Nigeria by extension, and therefore deserves a second term of office.
He said the commitment has been demonstrated through the president’s several intervention projects, ranging from infrastructure to agriculture to social development across the northern region.
Ganduje emphasised that the establishment of the North West Development Commission was a clear indication that the president loves the North West region.
N/West faring better under Tinubu — Uba Sani
Similarly, Governor Uba Sani said the North West region is better off under President Tinubu. “President Tinubu took control of our nation’s affairs at one of the most difficult times in its history,” he said.
He praised Tinubu’s bold reforms, saying, “The president is not afraid to take tough decisions. Nigerians are also beginning to appreciate the fact that Mr. President means well for our country.”
APC Must strengthen grassroots mobilisation – Speaker Abbas
In his remarks, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, said defections to the APC reflected the rising confidence of Nigerians in the party and its leadership, but stressed that the party must strengthen its grassroots mobilisation.
“To enhance our election efforts, it is crucial to strengthen grassroots mobilisation. We must continue to integrate and involve more young people and women in the party. Their involvement is crucial for achieving future political success,” he said.
“With the 2027 general election approaching, we must intensify grassroots mobilisation, consolidate our legislative gains, and engage new constituencies, especially youth and women, through empowerment programmes,” Abbas added.
Kaduna governor announces Tinubu’s endorsement
Reading the communiqué at the end of the meeting, Kaduna State governor and APC North West Coordinating Governor, Uba Sani, announced the zone’s unanimous endorsement of President Tinubu for a second term of office.
The governor cited Tinubu’s achievements in leadership, security, and development within the two years of the President’s first term of office.
“We thank and commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his purposeful leadership, bold reforms, and unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s progress, especially in the North West zone.
Security in the North West has significantly improved under President Tinubu, enabling farmers to return to their fields and communities to regain peace and stability,” the governor said.
“Our zone enjoys unprecedented federal representation with 12 ministers, key National Assembly positions, and top security appointments — a clear sign of inclusiveness and recognition,” he added.
Tinubu doesn’t deserve a second term – ADC
Reacting, the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, (ADC), Dr Ralphs Okey Nwosu, said President Tinubu does not deserve a second term of office.
Nwosu in a telephone interview with our correspondent yesterday said if the president should be rated in terms of percentage, he might only get 10% or even be rated in the negative.
Speaking on the backdrop of the recent endorsement of the president by the APC stakeholders in Kaduna, Nwosu told our correspondent that it is the opposition that is giving Nigerians hope, adding that if left to the APC, many Nigerians will die of hunger.
“As an opposition leader and even as a Nigerian, I can say that the president does not deserve a second term. There is no ordinary Nigerian that will give this government 10 %. If he is to be rated it will be in the negative. His percentile would be in the negative,” he said.
He said the president can only rerun if he had delivered on his campaign promises to Nigerians and “stop strangulating the opposition and the citizens.”
Nigerians will determine who wins 2027 polls – SDP, NNPP
But the Social Democratic Party (SDP) said Nigerians will determine who wins the 2027 presidency when the time comes.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, told our correspondent yesterday that j”It is the Nigerian people who will determine who occupies Aso Rock Villa beyond 2027, not the APC leaders,” Aiyenigba said.
The NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, told our correspondent that internal party endorsements carry little weight in the broader evaluation of the government’s performance.
Endorsement will amount to nothing – PDP NEC member
Similarly, a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP, Tim Osadolor said the endorsement of President Tinubu will amount to nothing.
Osadolor, the Deputy National Youth Leader of the PDP told our correspondent that campaigns have not started and “It is against the electoral law and the constitution of the land to be doing endorsements orr making pronouncements on elections that have not commenced.”
He described the endorsement by the APC stakeholders in Kaduna on Saturday as a sign of the rot in the system, saying,” it gives you an idea how terrible and how terribly destroyed and flawed the system is. The electoral laws and guidelines are clear, also with the constitution of the country.
Reacting to the development, a social media user, Adnan Abdullahi, said, “Under Tinubu’s watch, kidnappers, terrorists and bandits are killing innocent people everyday in the North. But the main worries of these Northern governors is to endorse Tinubu to continue as president beyond 2027. May God turn their evil plan upside down.”
Another user, Abacha, said, “God will do what he will do to show he is truly God! BAT overplaying his hand.”
Analyst weighs in
But reacting, a Professor of Political Sociology, Abubakar Kari, told our correspondent yesterday that the action of APC leaders is a direct response to oppositions’ early resolve to unseat President Tinubu in 2027.
Kari said it would be “politically incorrect” for the ruling party to fold its arms and watch opposition parties gang up against it and the president.
The political sociologist said the defection of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai from to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the formation of a coalition by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to unseat Tinubu in 2027 at this early stage has triggered series of endorsement of the President in the country.
He said, “From the point of view of governance, ordinarily, the government should be serious. It should face the serious responsibility of governance and so on. It may appear to be politically imcoreect for Tinubu and the APC to be too preoccupied with the politics now.
“But I think this is happening because the opposition came out early. El-Rufai, Atiku and others, made it clear that they are determined to remove Tinubu from power and so on.
“So I think what is happening now is a direct response to the opposition. APC must be seen to be mobilising not just to protect itself but to also assure its members and the public that it is in charge.
“So in that wise, it can be said to be politically correct. In fact, it will be more politically incorrect if the APC simply fold its arms when the opposition leaders are ganging up against it and the president.”
