The 2027 general elections in Nigeria are shaping up as a complex and highly competitive race, with the opposition struggling to find direction while the ruling party consolidates its power, according to political columnist Hakeem Baba-Ahmed.
Baba-Ahmed notes that the opposition appears unprepared, seemingly unsure whether it is in a sprint or marathon, while the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has effectively set the pace of the electoral contest. “The APC thinks its opponents are not in the race,” he writes, “but it fails to realize that its true competitor is the Nigerian electorate.”
The APC currently controls more than 26 state governments, giving it significant influence over legislators and the political landscape. This dominance, Baba-Ahmed argues, allows the party to manipulate political processes to its advantage, sometimes at the expense of political fairness.
The columnist highlights recent high-profile defections, including in Kano and Plateau states, as key strategic moves. In Kano, APC’s outreach to former NNPP Governor Abba and his supporters represents a gamble with potentially significant political gains, while Plateau’s expected switch could dramatically weaken the opposition’s foothold in the North and alter strategic calculations for the 2027 vice-presidential ticket.
However, Baba-Ahmed cautions that both APC and opposition parties like ADC face internal challenges. With multiple ambitions among defectors and limited positions available, disputes and frustrations could arise, potentially benefiting smaller parties.
“The Nigerian voter must not be taken for granted,” Baba-Ahmed emphasizes, noting that the eventual winner will need to offer bold promises and concrete plans to change the nation’s trajectory.
The 2027 elections, he concludes, are set to be anything but ordinary, requiring extraordinary strategies from both the ruling party and its challengers to secure victory.
