As Nigeria’s political atmosphere begins to warm ahead of the 2027 general elections, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, has dismissed ongoing merger discussions among opposition parties, describing them as an alliance “destined to fail.”
Ganduje made these remarks on Friday while addressing journalists after the APC National Working Committee (NWC) paid a post-Sallah visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari at his Daura residence in Kaduna State. The high-level visit forms part of the APC’s efforts to consolidate party unity and loyalty heading into the next electoral cycle.
Reacting to talks of a possible merger among opposition parties spearheaded by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Ganduje confidently asserted that the APC is “not worried at all.” He likened the move to failed past attempts and stated that such coalitions were historically proven to be incoherent and fragile.
“They went on a joint venture which will not work because from what we have seen, there are just some particles that cannot come together,” Ganduje said. “It is a game, and we will not reveal our technicalities, but we assure you, we are equal to the task.”
The APC Chairman reinforced the party’s strength by noting it currently governs 21 states, calling it the “strongest political party in West Africa.” He added that the APC is not only focused on maintaining its current political dominance but also expanding its influence.
“We are eyeing other states that will come into our fold. Either the governors themselves will come, or we go for elections and defeat them to increase our tally,” he stated.
Interestingly, Ganduje’s comments followed closely after Atiku Abubakar and several prominent opposition figures paid their own Sallah homage to Buhari, raising political eyebrows and fueling speculation of behind-the-scenes alignment.
Among the delegation were former governors Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Jibrilla Bindow (Adamawa), and Achike Udenwa (Imo). Atiku later confirmed ongoing opposition merger talks, but clarified that the visit to Buhari was not part of those discussions.
“There is a plan for the major political parties to come together and form a strong opposition, but it is not part of our visit,” he told reporters.
On social media, Atiku posted a light-hearted summary of the visit:
“Today, I had the opportunity to pay a post-Sallah visit to His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari… It was a wonderful time with him. As usual, he cracked me up (to the extent that my ribs were hurting) with his peculiar humour.”
The flurry of visits to Buhari first from APC governors and now opposition heavyweights has deepened political intrigue. Analysts believe these interactions are more than courtesy calls, hinting at possible realignments and strategic positioning ahead of the next elections.
While Ganduje remains confident in the APC’s strength and strategy, the emerging coalition talks led by opposition forces signal that Nigeria’s 2027 elections may be fiercely contested. The race for political dominance has unofficially begun, and both camps are preparing for a long campaign.
Whether these alliances hold water or collapse under internal contradictions remains to be seen. For now, the APC is doubling down on its reach, while the opposition is working on forming a unified front.
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