By Musa Baba Adamu
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abubakar Yusuf, has warned President Bola Tinubu against over-reliance on APC governors ahead of the 2027 elections, predicting internal crises that could shake the ruling party.
Yusuf cautioned that beneath the surface of the APC’s apparent dominance lies deep-seated tension that could erupt if internal democracy is not upheld, particularly during the party’s primary elections.
Speaking on Channels Television, monitored in Abuja, the lawmaker said many governors defecting into the APC lack genuine grassroots support, warning that their influence may not translate into electoral strength.
He argued that while the APC may still coast to victory in 2027, it would be largely due to the disunity of opposition parties rather than the performance of the current administration.
“APC will likely win the 2027 presidential election not because the government has performed but because there is no opposition,” Yusuf said.
He described the opposition as credible individuals who have failed to function as a united front.
Despite this, he stressed that the real threat to the APC lies within, pointing to possible “implosions” if the party leadership fails to conduct transparent and competitive primaries.
“What APC will be worried about is intra-party crisis… there will be implosions if they refuse to allow free and fair elections,” he warned.
Yusuf also rejected any move toward automatic tickets for incumbents, saying such a strategy could trigger mass defections and weaken the party’s structure.
He urged President Tinubu, as leader of the party, to assert control and ensure fairness in the selection process, rather than yielding to the influence of governors and entrenched interests.
“There are too many contradictions within the system… the president must stand firm and not rely on the governors. Many of them are not popular,” he added.
The senator further hinted at “surprises” ahead, suggesting that unresolved internal rivalries among party blocs—including governors, political groups, and grassroots supporters, could reshape the APC’s trajectory as 2027 approaches.
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