As defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC) continue, Senator Shehu Sani has cautioned that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could secure a sweeping victory in the 2027 elections unless opposition parties form a united front. Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Sani—who represented Kaduna Central in the 9th Senate—stressed that internal divisions are crippling the opposition’s ability to effectively challenge the ruling party.
“There’s no way to unseat a ruling party without a coalition,” Sani stated. “Only through unity can opposition parties put aside their narrow interests for the greater good of democracy.”
Despite repeated public appeals for collaboration, Sani noted that key opposition parties—including the PDP, Labour Party, SDP, and NNPP—have remained disengaged from coalition efforts. He warned that entering the 2027 race as fragmented entities would all but guarantee a landslide win for the APC. Reflecting on the 2023 elections, he said the opposition's refusal to unite played a significant role in Tinubu’s victory, cautioning that the same mistake is poised to repeat.
Sani also highlighted a deeper issue in Nigeria’s political system: the lack of ideological distinction between parties. “Political parties in Nigeria are merely platforms for personal ambition,” he said. “Their manifestos are nearly identical—the only difference is the name.”
He rejected the idea that it’s President Tinubu’s responsibility to preserve the health of opposition parties. “It’s not Asiwaju’s job to prevent them from imploding. They must resolve their own internal conflicts and retain their members through genuine leadership.”
Looking ahead, Sani predicted further defections to the APC, particularly from the PDP, citing its ongoing leadership crises. “You can’t run a party with two national secretaries or constant infighting over primaries. It creates instability for governors, senators, and aspirants who don’t know which faction to follow.”
He concluded by warning that unless the opposition regroups and reforms, Nigeria risks becoming a one-party state—not by legal decree, but by default.
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