FG Responds to Obi, Kwankwaso on Tinubu’s Re-election Chances

The Federal Government has dismissed claims by Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi and his running mate, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, that President Bola Tinubu will be defeated in the 2027 general elections. They insist that the All Progressives Congress remains confident of keeping the Presidency.

Defense Minister Christopher Musa said the APC will win the presidential race, as well as governorship and other elective positions in Kaduna State, rejecting suggestions of growing opposition against the ruling party in the North.

Musa spoke on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, just hours after Obi and Kwankwaso told their supporters they are ready to oppose any attempt to manipulate the 2027 elections.

While Obi warned that voters will not allow their votes to be stolen at polling stations, Kwankwaso argued that the APC could lose despite controlling over 30 states, referencing the defeat of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

Musa, addressing a suggestion that Kaduna voters might punish the APC and Tinubu over the administration’s performance, dismissed it, calling the perceived rejection of the APC in the North a matter of perception.

“That’s a perception. It’s a perception, and I mean, everybody has his own perception to deal with. People will always have the good, the bad, and the ugly,” he said.

When asked if APC might lose Kaduna in 2027, Musa confidently responded, “I cannot say we cannot lose. APC will win in Kaduna. That I know.”

He clarified, “Definitely. Presidential, governorship, and all levels.”

Asked about the rising anti-APC sentiment in the North, Musa dismissed it, stating that some people are trying to manipulate public opinion because they are unhappy with their current circumstances.

“That’s why I said there are some people, because probably they are not where they think they are, the tendency is they want to whip up sentiments. APC is this, APC is that,” he explained.

He defended Tinubu’s policies, saying the President has made tough decisions that will pay off over time.

“But I can tell you this, the President has taken very painful decisions, and I can tell you these are decisions that are coming in gradually,” Musa said.

He expressed optimism that Nigerians will eventually understand the reasoning behind some of the government’s choices, especially its economic policies.

“I mean, you can look at the economy and all these things, we’re coming in gradually. At a time, people will now realize that, look, this thing we thought was like this, this is actually how it’s going,” he added.

Musa concluded with a firm prediction: “And I can tell you, APC will win.”

Earlier on Thursday, Obi and Kwankwaso reassured supporters and party members that nobody will intimidate them or undermine their votes at the polling stations during the 2027 elections. Obi also vowed that anyone attempting to prevent votes from being counted will be counted himself.

He spoke at a town hall meeting called “Obi Talks Nigeria” in Port Harcourt. When responding to supporters’ questions, Obi said it would be naive to think the 2027 election could be easily manipulated like the 2023 election.

“Nobody will intimidate us again at the polling booth. If you get to any polling booth today, the highest number of officials you see in any polling booth is five.”

Obi, Nigeria Democratic Congress’s presidential candidate, ran in the 2023 election under the Labour Party, finishing third behind Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Tinubu defeated 17 other candidates with 8,794,726 votes—the highest in that election—and met the constitutional requirement for victory.

He also secured at least 25% of the votes in 30 states, surpassing the constitutional threshold.

Atiku finished second with 6,984,520 votes, and Obi received 6,101,533 votes.