Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who represents Abia South Senatorial District, has declared that President Bola Tinubu has no chance of securing a second term in the 2027 presidential election, citing the widespread hardship faced by Nigerians.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, December 15, Abaribe dismissed claims that Tinubu has never lost an election, insisting that public frustration and economic hardship have strengthened the resolve of voters against the current administration.
According to the senator, Nigerians are more politically aware and determined than ever, stressing that the president would be defeated at the next polls.
“I do not think so. Everybody loses elections, and you will see when the time comes. He will lose in 2027 because I know what Nigerians are feeling outside,” he said.
Abaribe also questioned the credibility of Tinubu’s 2023 victory, claiming the president did not genuinely win the election but was merely declared the winner. He said the opposition accepted the outcome at the time but would be better prepared in 2027.
“Tinubu never won the 2023 election, and everybody knows it. But we said fine, he has been declared the winner, no problem. We acknowledge him as president, but we are going to meet him in the field,” he stated.
The lawmaker argued that economic challenges and insecurity under the current administration would make it difficult for Tinubu to gather enough votes for re-election.
Reacting to recent defections from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abaribe ruled out any possibility of joining the party, saying he would only do so if no other political party remained in Nigeria.
He further maintained that the wave of defections would weaken rather than strengthen the APC, as it would intensify internal crises and leadership struggles within the party.
Abaribe described the APC as a fragile political structure and reaffirmed his commitment to the opposition coalition ahead of 2027, noting that it has adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform. He dismissed suggestions that the move was solely to advance the ambition of Atiku Abubakar, stressing that opposition leaders remain united in their determination to unseat the ruling party.
