“Tinubu won’t be defeated like Jonathan in 2027 over insecurity” – APC
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asserted that President Bola Tinubu will not allow himself to be defeated in the 2027 general elections due to rising insecurity in the country, as former President Goodluck Jonathan was in 2015.
The ruling party made the statement in light of growing concerns over the recent increase in violent attacks in the country, with many speculating that insecurity could influence the outcome of the next election.
APC emphasized that while insecurity contributed to Jonathan’s defeat in 2015, it is determined to prevent similar circumstances from affecting President Tinubu’s administration.
In an interview with THISDAY, APC spokesperson Mr. Bala Ibrahim responded to claims that the rising insecurity in the country is politically motivated, designed to destabilize the government and ensure the president’s defeat in 2027.
“If indeed this is the observation or the thinking of the naysayers, the government cannot just fold its arms and allow itself to be caught napping,” he said.
“It is good that people are linking history to the political situation of the country. If that was what was responsible for the downfall of Jonathan, I can tell you, Jonathan was defeated by the APC, and the APC cannot blindfold itself and allow itself to defeat itself.
“So, President Bola Tinubu by your submission or by the submission of the naysayers is already aware of the problem that will take him to lose and he will not allow it.
“And this insecurity is increasingly invigorated in a way and manner that is making movement in the areas that were hitherto impenetrable, so much so that people can now ply the roads from Abuja to Sokoto. They can ply the roads from Abuja to Maiduguri, and they can move about in areas that were no good areas before.
“Yes, there are spots where the heat is still on, but it’s only a sign that Uhuru is very close by. When you’re about to get to waterloo, you will see that the intensity of it becomes higher, and there are chances for more casualty to be found. Definitely it is not to say the war is about to be lost. We are actually going for victory,” he said.
In response to the rising insecurity, the APC attributed part of the problem to Nigeria’s strained relations with its francophone neighbors, particularly following recent political changes in Niger.
This, according to Ibrahim, has led to a lack of collaboration with neighboring countries in the fight against insurgents and bandits.
“Nigeria cannot operate in isolation and when you look at the relationship between Nigeria and its francophone neighbouring countries, you will see that of recent, ever since the change of government in Niger, there has been a kind of sour relationship that is threatening the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF).
“Nigeria is literally left alone to fight this war without the collaborative effort of its neighbours. If the President of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu, has not been doing enough, probably they would have overrun Nigeria by now.
“But thanks to the initiative of the National Security Advisor (NSA), Mallam NuhuRibadu, who has been strategising and re-strategising. You see there is a decline in the ferocity of attacks.
“When last did you hear these bandits or kidnappers or insurgents coming to attack with such spectacular manners as they used to do. Even in areas like Zamfara, Kebbiand Sokoto, you found that the degree of attacks have reduced. Which is to say that these people who are attacking are increasing in being put under heat.
“And I assure you, the situation is going to continue improving with the initiatives of the government of the day.”
Meanwhile, the security situation in Nigeria has led to widespread concern, with groups like Afenifere, a Yoruba socio-political organization, urging the federal government to collaborate with state governors and develop new strategies to combat the growing insecurity challenges.
Senators from the 19 northern states have also condemned the rising attacks in communities, particularly in Plateau and Benue States, vowing to resist any attempts to normalize such violent activities.
In response to the growing insecurity, former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mike Ejiofor, blamed the persistent violence on a combination of intelligence failures, inadequate manpower, and the limited use of modern defense technologies.
