The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed concerns over opposition realignments and zoning decisions by rival political groups, insisting that neither the African Democratic Congress (ADC) nor the newly mentioned NDC poses any electoral challenge ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The position was made clear by APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, and the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) as well as Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, who both spoke on Saturday in Abuja.
Yilwatda, who addressed journalists after screening governorship aspirants for upcoming party primaries, argued that the ruling party remains dominant across the country, both in numerical strength and political reach.
He said the APC currently controls more than 31 state governors and over 400 legislators, while describing the reported defection of 17 lawmakers to the opposition as insignificant.
“17 legislators? We have over 400 legislators. Compared to 17, it is just a meagre number that has moved to those numbers,” he said.
He added that the party also maintains a strong grip at the grassroots, with over 600 local government chairmen under its structure.
According to him, opposition parties remain divided and weakened by internal competition rather than presenting any serious challenge to the ruling party.
“Why should we be afraid? If you look at it now, the fight is not between APC and ADC or within our political party, but ADC versus NDC,” Yilwatda said.
He further argued that electoral outcomes, rather than media narratives, determine political strength.
“Performance is not on TV, it is not on radio; it is in newspapers, it is on the field during elections,” he added.
Yilwatda also claimed that the opposition parties have performed poorly in recent by-elections, stating that neither ADC nor NDC had recorded victories.
“The major opposition we have is actually PDP. And even the PDP has not done very well in terms of electoral performance,” he said.
On his part, Governor Hope Uzodimma dismissed any suggestion that opposition parties could threaten President Bola Tinubu’s re-election prospects, insisting that the APC’s national spread gives it a decisive advantage.
“The problem I have with the media is that you know the truth, yet you always want to dance around in a country of 36 states, and 31 are sufficiently and transparently members of the All Progressives Congress,” Uzodimma said.
He argued that APC’s dominance across most states reflects the political mood of the country.
“Look at that proportion—31 states are already for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, apart from some states that are half APC and half their party. If you add it to it, you know that Nigeria has spoken,” he said.
Uzodimma also questioned the structure and relevance of the opposition grouping that recently zoned its presidential ticket to the South.
“So, I’m not, we’re not threatened by any. First of all, this party that zoned the presidential ticket to the South—where is their head office?” he said.
Both leaders maintained that internal opposition divisions and limited electoral success make them confident of APC’s position heading into the next election cycle.
