Amid a wave of defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), party chieftain and former senator, Shehu Sani, has predicted a landslide victory for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election if opposition parties fail to form a united front.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Sani emphasized that internal divisions and lack of cooperation among opposition parties could hand the APC an easy win. He pointed out that none of the leading opposition parties PDP, Labour Party, SDP, or NNPP currently appear willing to engage in coalition talks.
“There’s no realistic way to unseat a ruling party without a coalition,” said Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 9th Senate. “Unless the opposition parties set aside their narrow political interests and ambitions for the sake of democracy, they stand no chance.”
He noted that some parties have already ruled out coalition efforts, with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) distancing themselves from any merger talks, while the Labour Party continues to operate in isolation.
“If they contest separately in 2027, the APC will win by a landslide,” he stated. “But if they unite, they could win significant seats and create a strong impact.”
Sani argued that the disunity among opposition parties cost them the 2023 election and is likely to do the same in the next cycle if unresolved. He added that Nigeria’s political system lacks ideological depth, allowing politicians to switch parties with ease and little consequence.
“Our parties are not built on ideology—they’re mere platforms for personal ambition. Most party manifestos are nearly identical, so defections come easily and without ideological conflict,” he said.
He dismissed suggestions that the APC should bear responsibility for the opposition’s challenges, saying it is up to opposition leaders to keep their members united and motivated.
“A party that can’t manage its internal conflicts shouldn’t expect loyalty from its members,” Sani said. “The crisis in the PDP, including multiple factions and leadership disputes, is driving members away.”
He warned that more defections were likely, especially from the PDP, due to its unresolved internal issues and uncertainty about future primaries.
“When a party has multiple factions, no clear leadership, and legal battles over its structure, it creates instability,” he said. “A first-term PDP governor or sitting senator can’t be sure they’ll secure a nomination. That uncertainty will continue to push more members out.”