APC Rejects Opposition Coalition, Describes Ibadan Summit As A Ruse

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Ajibola Basiru, has dismissed ongoing efforts by opposition parties to form a united coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing the initiative as unrealistic and lacking substance. According to Ireporter Online, Basiru reacted to the outcome of the recent Ibadan summit, which was said to have been attended by representatives of about ten political parties, insisting that the gathering held no real political significance. He characterized the meeting as mere “fanfare” orchestrated by dissatisfied politicians and argued that it did not meet the standards of a legitimate inter-party engagement.

Basiru further described the Ibadan meeting as deceptive, maintaining that it was simply a collection of individuals rather than an official convergence of recognized political parties. He emphasized that any formal meeting involving political parties must receive authorization from key party organs such as the National Working Committee or the National Executive Committee, noting that without such approval, the assembly could not be regarded as valid.

The APC chieftain also raised concerns about internal crises within major opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party, pointing out that ongoing leadership disputes—some of which are still before the Supreme Court of Nigeria—call into question the legitimacy of those claiming to represent such parties at the summit. He queried the authority under which the participants convened, given the unresolved issues within their respective organizations.

Addressing the broader coalition agenda, Basiru described the move as contradictory, noting that many of the same opposition figures had previously warned against the emergence of a one-party state under the APC. He argued that their attempt to unite against a single party undermines that narrative and instead highlights their inability to compete independently. According to him, the coalition effort amounts to an admission of political weakness, stressing that Nigeria’s electoral framework recognizes individual political parties that must present their own candidates.

Dismissing concerns about any potential threat to the ruling party, Basiru expressed confidence that the opposition would struggle to maintain unity, predicting that internal disagreements would soon emerge due to conflicting personal ambitions among its members. He also criticized remarks attributed to Seyi Makinde, particularly references to “Operation Wet e,” describing such statements as inappropriate and potentially inciting, especially coming from a sitting governor.

Basiru concluded by urging opposition leaders to channel their energy into presenting credible alternatives to voters rather than pursuing what he described as ineffective alliances driven by frustration.