The Battle for the Presidency: President Tinubu’s Quest for Re-election In 2027 (2)

The Battle for the Presidency: President Tinubu’s Quest for Re-election In 2027 (2)

By Abbati Bako,pol.sc,bsis,Uni.Kent,UK
Political Strategy and Communications Consultant,IPRC

As the 2027 presidential election draws near, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has thrown its weight behind President Bola Tinubu, adopting him as the party’s sole candidate. This move has sparked intense debate, with many questioning the implications of this decision on the country’s democratic landscape.

For example, India is the largest democracy in the world with over 900m registered voters and over 25,000 political parties competing. Hence, constitutional democracy is a game for competition, meaning that each and every citizen has the right to contest elections.
In India despite their huge population democratic system is working very well for the fact that India is among the top 10 largest economies in the world. This has been as a result of patriotic leadership and serialized strategic planning based on calendar time frame in that number one most populous country in the world. Planning and strategy is very important in political democratic governance of the country.

*A Party United, But at What Cost?

The APC’s decision to present President Tinubu as its sole candidate may be seen as a strategic move to maintain party unity and consolidate power before the election year 2027. However, this decision also raises concerns about the lack of internal democracy within the party. With over 100 million registered voters in Nigeria, the APC’s decision may be perceived as an attempt to stifle competition and limit the choices available to the electorate. Representative democracy is a game that gives opportunity for every citizen to contest elections being democracy is a marketplace for electorates to taste their choice in the game.

*The Opposition’s Dilemma:

The APC’s main opponents, including the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP), and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), are facing a daunting task. With several high-profile defections to the APC, the opposition parties are struggling to maintain their cohesion and relevance. The PDP, in particular, has been hit hard by the defections, with many of its prominent members joining the APC. Can opposition parties in Nigeria make serious efforts to crush the ruling party come 2027? This is a matter of time and time will tell.

*The Electoral Landscape:

As the 2027 presidential election approaches, the electoral landscape is becoming increasingly complex. With President Tinubu’s adoption as the APC’s sole candidate, the party is likely to face intense scrutiny from the opposition and the electorate. The APC’s ability to deliver on its campaign promises and address the country’s pressing issues, such as poverty, insecurity, and economic precarity, (inflation seems to be going down to 23.7% as against 37.3% last year 2024) stagnation, will be crucial in determining the outcome of the election. Therefore, the political horizon in Nigeria seems to be hazy, cloudy and unclear; possibly until the year 2026 the predictability of who will be the president of Nigeria will be clear for the analysts in political prediction.

*The Verdict of the Electorate:

Ultimately, the decision of the APC to present President Tinubu as its sole candidate will be subject to the verdict of the electorate. With over 100 million registered voters, the Nigerian people will have the final say on whether President Tinubu deserves another term in office. As the election approaches, one thing is clear: the battle for the presidency will be fierce, and the outcome is far from certain at the moment.

To be continued insha’Allah

Abbati Bako, can be reached abbatibako@mail.com