2027: APC Govs are only ‘tenants’ in government houses, Baraje declares

By Lateef Ibrahim

A former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Kawu Baraje, has declared that the political fortunes of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are declining, predicting that the party could lose several states to the opposition in the 2027 general elections.

Baraje described APC governors currently occupying government houses as mere “tenants”, arguing that growing dissatisfaction among Nigerians was creating an opportunity for the PDP to return to power.

He made the remarks while speaking with journalists at the Dutse International Airport, where he was on his way to Azare in Bauchi State.

According to the former PDP chairman, the ruling party’s earlier electoral successes were helped considerably by divisions within the opposition, particularly the internal crises that weakened the PDP.

“You see, the APC people who are occupying the government houses today are tenants,” Baraje said.

He argued that the PDP had now made significant progress in resolving its internal disagreements and rebuilding unity ahead of the 2027 elections.

Baraje also said the PDP had previously accepted the outcomes of the 2015 and 2023 elections in the interest of political stability, despite its reservations about aspects of the results.

However, he claimed that the political mood was now shifting in favour of the opposition, with Nigerians allegedly becoming increasingly receptive to the PDP.

“But as you can see what is going on now, people are rejecting them totally and clamouring for the return of the PDP. So, it is some kind of revolution,” he said.

The former party chairman expressed particular confidence in the PDP’s ability to regain states currently controlled by the APC, naming Bauchi and Jigawa among the states he expects the opposition party to reclaim in 2027.

His comments come against the backdrop of intensified political realignments and mobilization ahead of the 2027 elections, as opposition parties attempt to challenge the APC’s hold on several states.

Baraje’s assessment also highlights the growing importance of opposition unity as political parties position themselves for the next general elections, with internal reconciliation increasingly being presented as a key factor in determining whether the PDP can recover lost political ground.