The ruling All Progressives Congress may enter the 2027 presidential election with a significant organisational advantage as opposition parties struggle to build a united political structure capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu.
Arise News Director of News and Politics, Sumner Sambo, said the APC currently possesses a political structure that would be difficult for any opposition party to match ahead of the election.
Sambo’s assessment comes as opposition parties continue consultations over possible cooperation and the emergence of a common presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
Six opposition parties, including the African Democratic Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Nigeria Democratic Congress, Social Democratic Party, Allied Peoples Movement and Peoples Redemption Party, have been holding consultations on a possible common strategy. However, the parties have yet to announce an agreement on a single presidential candidate.
The development highlights one of the major challenges confronting the opposition: converting discussions among political leaders into a functioning grassroots structure capable of competing with the ruling party.
The APC has the advantage of an incumbent president and a large network of elected officials and party structures across the country. Recent political developments have also seen influential politicians from outside the APC publicly support Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
Sambo’s comments suggest that the opposition cannot rely solely on public dissatisfaction with the government or the popularity of individual politicians to defeat the APC.
For the opposition, the 2027 contest could therefore depend heavily on whether its ongoing coalition talks produce a coordinated organisation, a clear message and a candidate capable of attracting support beyond individual political strongholds.
The APC, meanwhile, will have to convert its organisational advantage into actual voter support, particularly as economic conditions, security and public confidence remain important issues that could shape voters’ decisions.
