The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has dismissed ongoing talks of a potential opposition merger ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing the initiative as a fruitless political experiment bound to collapse.
Ganduje made the remarks on Friday while speaking with journalists in Kaduna after leading members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) on a Sallah homage to former President Muhammadu Buhari at his private residence.
Reacting to speculations about an emerging coalition among opposition heavyweights—particularly former Vice President Atiku Abubakar—the APC chairman waved off any suggestion that such a movement posed a threat to the ruling party.
“We are not worried at all. This is just history repeating itself. They have done it before, and it didn’t work. What we’re seeing now are just incompatible fragments trying to unite. It’s a political game, and though we won’t disclose our strategies, we’re more than ready for the task ahead,” Ganduje said.
The APC leader reaffirmed the party’s firm grip on national politics, highlighting its control of 21 states and referring to the APC as “still the strongest party in West Africa.”
According to Ganduje, the ruling party is not content with maintaining the status quo but is actively working to expand its influence across more states.
“We are targeting more states—either by convincing their leaders to join us or by defeating them at the polls. We are confident, but not complacent. The work continues,” he added.
His comments came just days after a high-profile visit to former President Buhari by opposition leader Atiku Abubakar, who was accompanied by prominent figures including former governors Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Jibrilla Bindow (Adamawa), and Achike Udenwa (Imo).
While the visit sparked fresh speculation about a grand opposition alliance, Atiku clarified that the meeting was purely a post-Sallah courtesy call.
“There is a plan for the major political parties to come together and form a strong opposition, but it is not part of our visit,” Atiku told reporters after the meeting.
As Nigeria’s political landscape begins to warm up ahead of 2027, analysts say all eyes will be on how both the ruling party and the opposition recalibrate their strategies in the coming months.
