Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who represents Abia South Senatorial District, has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not secure a second term in office, insisting that the current administration has lost the confidence of Nigerians.
Speaking on Monday during an appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, the opposition lawmaker argued that the prevailing economic hardship and persistent insecurity across the country have significantly weakened public support for the president ahead of the 2027 general election.
Abaribe went further to challenge the legitimacy of Tinubu’s 2023 electoral victory, claiming that the president did not genuinely win the poll but was nevertheless declared the winner.
He said that while the opposition accepted the outcome in the interest of national stability, Nigerians have not forgotten the circumstances surrounding the election.
According to the senator, widespread suffering caused by rising living costs and what he described as a collapsing economy has galvanised citizens to ensure that Tinubu does not return to office after his current tenure.
He maintained that the mood across the country is one of frustration and resolve, adding that this sentiment would reflect at the ballot box in 2027.
Reacting to claims that Tinubu has never lost an election, Abaribe dismissed the notion, stating that no politician is immune to defeat.
He said the president would experience electoral loss when Nigerians are given another opportunity to vote, stressing that voters are now more alert and organised than in previous elections.
He suggested that the next presidential election would not be decided in controversial circumstances, insisting that Nigerians would be vigilant in protecting their votes.
According to him, the opposition and the electorate are better prepared to challenge any outcome they perceive as flawed.
The senator also questioned how the president intends to muster sufficient nationwide support for re-election, given what he described as the administration’s failure to address insecurity and revive the economy.
He argued that these unresolved challenges have eroded public trust and reduced the ruling party’s appeal.
On the wave of defections from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abaribe distanced himself from the trend, vowing that he would never defect to the party.
He said he would rather remain in the opposition than join what he described as a party grappling with internal contradictions.
According to Abaribe, the influx of defectors into the APC is not strengthening the ruling party but instead importing unresolved disputes and rivalries that could destabilise it from within.
He described the APC as a powerful structure with inherent weaknesses, predicting that these cracks would become more visible as the next election approaches.
The lawmaker expressed confidence that the opposition would exploit these weaknesses, leading to the eventual defeat of the ruling party.
He added that internal conflicts arising from leadership struggles in states where defections have occurred would further undermine the APC’s cohesion.
Addressing speculations surrounding the opposition coalition and the adoption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a common platform for 2027, Abaribe rejected claims that the move was designed to impose a particular presidential aspirant, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
He said the coalition remained focused on unity and has yet to finalise its internal guidelines and processes.
Abaribe reaffirmed his commitment to the opposition alliance, stating that its primary objective is to build a credible alternative capable of dislodging the APC and responding more effectively to the needs and expectations of Nigerians.
