A cross section of Nigerian voters yesterday, criticised the endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the sole candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 presidential election as insensitive and an act of self-preservation by politicians within the ruling party.

On Thursday, the APC?s 22 governors, all its members in the National Assembly, and its National Working Committee (NWC), alongside zonal leaderships, endorsed and adopted President Tinubu as the party?s sole candidate ? barely two years into his administration and despite the fact that the president is yet to formally announce his intention to seek re-election.

Reacting to the development, Nigerians who spoke with Daily Trust yesterday expressed disappointment but said the move did not come as a surprise. Many of them lamented the unbearable cost of living and said the administration had failed to meet expectations.

In interviews, citizens from various walks of life voiced frustration over economic hardship, insecurity, and worsening poverty under the current government.

Rashida Muhammad, an administrative officer at a real estate firm in Abuja, was blunt in her assessment of Tinubu?s leadership.

?Tinubu does not deserve a second term. Look at how poorly he has performed in his first tenure. The country is at its lowest point right now,? she said.

Rashida pointed out that the cost of everything has doubled, and more people are going hungry daily. She said basic items she once purchased without thought have now become luxuries.

?I?ve had to cut back on a lot of things. The cost of living right now is just out of hand. I have nothing to say to the president because he already knows what?s going on and has done nothing about it.?

For Tafewa Muhammad, a farmer and fish seller, the politicians? endorsement of Tinubu for a second term was predictable, reflecting the self-serving nature of Nigeria?s political class.

?They?re not interested in public welfare. It?s all about personal benefits, personal finances. Corruption is so deep now, it?s become normal,? he said.

Tafewa also criticised the government?s policy direction, especially the rollout of compressed natural gas (CNG) without making it affordable or accessible.

?They introduced CNG, but it?s too expensive to convert, and the gas is hard to get. Why bring out an alternative people can?t use,? he queried.

He added that his business has suffered severely since Tinubu took office. ?Fish feed that used to cost N7,000 to N10,000 now sells for over N21,000. We?ve had to take loans to stay afloat. Inflation wiped out last year?s profits.?

Asked what he would say to the president if given the chance, Tafewa replied: ?We are not asking for miracles. Just fix the power problem. Everything else can follow.?

Chidera Vitalis Ononiwu, a secondary school teacher, believes Nigeria?s problems go beyond the economy.

?The situation is a total mess. There?s no direction and no strong political will. Security is bleeding. We need federal leadership that can issue clear directives, and more regional security outfits,? he said.

Ononiwu also dismissed the growing support for Tinubu as politically motivated. ?Some politicians are supporting Tinubu to remain politically relevant and to push us towards a one-party system. They?re greedy and have no ideology.?

She called for a different kind of leadership, adding that ?Nigeria needs a pragmatic leader, someone who combines Democratic and Republican values, understands global issues, promotes accountability, and prioritises welfare.?

Philip Simon Dauda warned that Nigeria is ?slipping into a one-party state,? arguing that politicians are prioritising political survival over governance.

?The president hasn?t even completed two years, yet the focus is already on 2027,? he said, lamenting the weakened state of the opposition.

Tunde Nafiu echoed similar fears, describing the current climate as ?creeping dictatorship.?

In Kano, reactions were similar. Alhaji Ibrahim Dantani, a farmer, said: ?This endorsement by APC governors doesn?t surprise me. They are politicians and will always support one another no matter the situation on the ground. But as a common man, I?m struggling to feed my family. Food prices are skyrocketing, fertiliser is expensive, and there?s no light. If they think this kind of suffering is a good record to endorse, then they are far from the reality ordinary people face.?

Aisha Mohammed, a school teacher, told our correspondent: ?Endorsing Tinubu for 2027 at this point is premature and insensitive. Many civil servants are not paid on time, and even when paid, the money can?t sustain a household for a week. I don?t understand what the governors are celebrating. Nigerians want solutions, not political rallies disguised as endorsements.?

Yusuf Aliyu, a community youth leader in the state, added: ?I believe some of these governors are just playing it safe, trying to secure their political future. But if you go to the markets or ride public transport, you?ll hear the real opinion of Nigerians. People are angry, tired, and hungry. If the APC thinks endorsement equals grassroots support, they are mistaken. 2027 is still far, but people are already asking questions.?

As the torrent of endorsements for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu continues to dominate headlines, political analysts have weighed in on the current administration?s performance?and what the show of support means for Nigeria?s political future.

Professor Hassan Saliu, National Chairman of the Nigeria Political Science Association (NPSA), acknowledged that although Tinubu has been in office for just about two years, some government policies urgently need reassessment.

?While some policies are commendable, others have failed to improve the living conditions of Nigerians,? Saliu said. ?There is a pressing need to review these interventions to ensure better outcomes for the people.?

Addressing the wave of defections and endorsements flooding the ruling party, the professor noted: ?This is expected in a political environment where politics is the only functioning sector?a place where returns are treated like business profits. In the absence of ideology or principles, money becomes the driving force. That explains the mass migration of politicians to the ruling party.?

Saliu lamented that despite such political movements, poverty is on the rise. ?Even if the president isn?t directly responsible for the defections, he must take a hard look at this trend and find ways to ease the mounting political tension.?

However, he expressed doubt that the government would make any dramatic policy shifts. ?The administration is already celebrating its achievements, signaling a reluctance to accept criticism.?

He urged Nigerians to use the remaining two years of the administration either to endorse its performance or prepare to vote for new leadership. ?But we should avoid overheating the political climate. The presidential term is four years, and only half has passed. Nigerians must remain patient and vigilant, steering clear of actions that could worsen tensions,? he advised.

Seyid Hassan Cisse, a lecturer in Policies and Governance at Kwara State University, stressed that the Tinubu administration must acknowledge that more is expected than what has been delivered so far.

Cisse urged the government to focus on alleviating hardship in the remaining years, especially considering controversial policies like the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira?measures he described as ?killing and frustrating.?

?We believe the government can still revitalize the people by revisiting these policies. With elections approaching, there should be renewed effort,? Cisse said. ?Despite the challenges, the administration should reexamine the petrol policy and restore economic balance, aligning policies with tangible benefits and positive public perception.?

He maintained that much can still be achieved in less than two years if the government prioritizes well and recalibrates its economic policies toward the people. ?Any government willing to act decisively can achieve results in that timeframe,? he said.

Regarding the wave of defections, Cisse viewed it as a potentially effective strategy if the government uses the time wisely to consolidate its base. ?The key is to make good use of the remaining period,? he added.

Meanwhile, Professor Kamilu Sani Fage of Bayero University, Kano, said the endorsements are unsurprising given the realities of Nigerian politics.

?Our politicians prioritize self-interest over national interest. That explains the race to endorse the president,? he said. ?One reason is that some former governors want automatic tickets to contest the next election. Another is that those in their last term seek to align with the government to benefit from the next administration. Also, some are likely fearful of repercussions from agencies like the EFCC, ICPC, and DSS, which have been used to coerce support for the government,? he said.

He argued that the endorsements are not only expected but also unconstitutional at this stage. ?By electoral law, campaign activities are to start 150 days before the election. Here, we are far from that, yet politicians are racing to endorse.?

Fage stressed the disconnect between political ambitions and the harsh realities facing ordinary Nigerians: ?While insecurity, poverty, hunger, unemployment, and inflation ravage the country, politicians focus more on elections than service delivery. This self-serving behaviour is uncalled for and unconstitutional.?

Dr. Kabiru Sufi, a politics lecturer also based in Kano, described the current political landscape as one of intense ?political horse trading? ahead of 2027.

?We are all heading towards the 2027 election, and political activities have begun in earnest,? he said. ?Defections in the National Assembly and among governors, and moves by the opposition to counter the ruling APC, all signal the start of the 2027 politicking.?

Sufi said the APC governors? endorsement of Tinubu is partly a response to opposition moves. ?They want to show that the president commands strong support not only from defectors but also from within the party leadership.?

He recalled the significance of governors? endorsements before the 2023 elections. ?PDP lost the presidential election partly because Jonathan failed to secure the backing of five PDP governors. Traditionally, governors? endorsements carry weight.?

However, Sufi noted that the 2023 election somewhat diminished this influence, citing how Labour Party candidate Peter Obi, with no governor?s endorsement, attracted substantial votes. ?This slightly reduced the governors? importance, but their backing still signals political horse trading.?

He suggested that governors supporting Tinubu may be positioning themselves to secure re-election tickets and political favours in 2027. ?This is a clear indication that politicking for 2027 started early in 2025.?

Sufi also highlighted that governors want to be key players in national politics and are using their support for the president to consolidate power. ?By backing Tinubu, they are shutting down any opposition within the APC. Any real challenge will likely come from outside the party.?

He concluded: ?We should expect more political moves as the election approaches, with governors playing an active role in shaping the contest.?

But a Professor of Political Sociology at the University of Abuja, Abubakar Kari, told Daily Trust that the rush for endorsement of President Tinubu is sequel to opposition leaders? early move to unseat the President in 2027.

Kari said it would be ?politically incorrect? for the ruling party to fold its arms and watch opposition parties gang up against it and the president.

He said the formation of anti-Tinubu coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar when the president was barely two years into his first term of office triggered the reaction from the APC.

Jackson Lekan Ojo, another political analyst, however, dismissed the significance of the endorsements, saying they will not determine the outcome of the 2027 election.

?The 2027 election will be between Tinubu and Nigerians, who will exercise their franchise either for or against his bid for a second term,? Ojo said.

He also criticised the APC for ??violating campaign regulations??. ?The ruling party is proving to be lawless by conducting campaign activities when the electoral umpire has yet to release official guidelines.?

?We are still in governance, not politics, yet these politicians have blurred the line, distracting the government system,? Ojo added.

He warned that the endorsements are unlikely to influence voters. ?The party?s decision is not the decision of the populace. The best campaign strategy is performance. Instead of joining Tinubu to tackle insecurity, poverty, and the collapse of education and health sectors, they mock Nigerians by endorsing him.?

Ojo cautioned that the endorsements may damage the president?s future electoral prospects rather than help them.

APC govs, lawmakers, NWC endorse Tinubu for 2027

President Tinubu was formally adopted as the sole presidential candidate of the APC for the 2027 election during the party?s National Summit held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday.

The summit, themed ?Renewed Hope Agenda: The Journey So Far,? saw overwhelming support from key party stakeholders, including governors, members of the National Assembly, and the party?s National Working Committee (NWC).

Hope Uzodinma, Chairman of the Progressives Governors? Forum (PGF) and governor of Imo State, announced the unanimous endorsement of Tinubu by all 22 APC governors. Following Uzodinma?s announcement, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, confirmed that APC members in the National Assembly also endorsed Tinubu for a second term.

The endorsement at the summit was a continuation of earlier expressions of support across various APC strongholds. On May 18, APC leaders from the North West gathered in Kaduna to endorse Tinubu?s re-election bid. The meeting was attended by the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and governors from the region including Uba Sani (Kaduna), Nasir Idris (Kebbi), and Umar Namadi (Jigawa).

Stakeholders in Kaduna State further solidified their backing by passing a vote of confidence on both Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani for their leadership and what they called pro-people policies. Similarly, former members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), led by Senator Tanko Al-Makura, pledged loyalty to the president.

At the summit, Governor Uzodinma reaffirmed the governors? commitment, stating, ?We as leaders of the party and heads of sub-national government have thrown our weight behind the president and will champion his re-election in 2027.?

He highlighted that the governors had resolved to back Tinubu during a prior meeting and pledged that the progressive governors would deliver their states in the upcoming election.

Uzodinma expressed optimism about Nigeria?s progress under Tinubu, noting improvements in the economy while cautioning that the APC must ?consolidate and listen to the voice of reason.? He praised the president?s ?giant strides? across sectors and formally moved a motion to adopt Tinubu as the APC?s sole candidate for 2027, a motion seconded by Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani.

Meanwhile, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who also chairs the Nigeria Governors? Forum (NGF), declared that Nigeria is on the right path with Tinubu at the helm. Speaking on behalf of all 36 state governors, AbdulRazaq defended the APC?s choice of Tinubu as its 2023 presidential candidate and highlighted his administration?s achievements over the past two years. He urged Nigerians to support the president?s policies and programmes going forward.

Similarly, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, lauded what he termed Tinubu?s focused leadership, urging party members to unite ahead of 2027. Akume encouraged the party to intensify efforts to market its achievements to Nigerians and welcomed those willing to join the APC fold.

House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas called for grassroots mobilisation, expressing confidence that ?in 2027, our party will secure a resounding victory.? He tasked party members with ensuring strong support across all levels.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, while announcing the National Assembly?s endorsement of Tinubu, called on party stakeholders to ?walk the talk? by delivering a victory for the president in 2027. He cautioned Tinubu not to rest on past laurels, recalling that some areas had underperformed in 2023 despite earlier promises of support. Akpabio described the endorsement as ?a notice of approval, not impeachment,? and moved the motion for endorsement, seconded by Speaker Abbas.

Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, APC National Chairman, officially declared Tinubu as the party?s sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election. He urged party members to ?resist external sabotage? and mocked the main opposition, the People?s Democratic Party (PDP), claiming it is ?gasping for breath? and losing relevance as many of its leaders defect to the APC.

Tinubu?s endorsement by the APC came just 24 hours after the party?s North Central stakeholders?including the region?s five APC governors?unanimously endorsed him for a second term. The endorsement was announced by Nasarawa State Governor and Chairman of the North Central APC Governors? Forum, Abdullahi Sule, following a meeting in Abuja.

Key attendees included Kwara State Governor and NGF Chairman AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Kogi State Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo, Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago, and Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule. Other notable figures present were SGF Senator George Akume, Minister of Justice and Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi, Minister of Information Mohammed Idris, Minister of Water Resources Prof. Joseph Utsev, former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello, and former PDP National Chairman Chief Barnabas Gemade.

Governor Sule, who read the communique at the end of the meeting, lauded Tinubu?s ?giant strides? in the North Central region, citing achievements in education, rural electrification, road infrastructure, and agriculture. The communique expressed confidence in Tinubu?s leadership, describing it as courageous and foresighted despite challenges.

The South West zone of the APC also expressed continued support for Tinubu. National Vice Chairman (South West), Isaac Kekemeke, told Daily Trust that the region would soon meet to reaffirm its endorsement and plan strategies to ensure Tinubu completes his tenure through 2031. Kekemeke noted that the South West Assembly had endorsed Tinubu in September 2024, commending the president for progress and urging Nigerians to bear temporary hardships for a better future.

In the North East, APC National Vice Chairman, Comrade Mustapha Salihu described the region?s endorsement as automatic, citing the presence of the Vice President and the National Security Adviser from the zone. He confirmed that the region would hold another meeting after the Hajj to reaffirm their support.

His remark at the summit, President Tinubu defended the wave of defections to the ruling party, asserting that no one should expect people to remain in what he described as a ?sinking ship.?

Tinubu said the growing support for the APC was a result of his administration?s performance over the past two years.

?You don?t blame people for bailing out of a sinking ship where there are no life jackets,? the president said. ?Citizens have the constitutional right to choose their political associations.?

He added that his administration?s economic reforms, though tough, are gaining recognition both locally and internationally.

?Today (Thursday), I am proud to affirm that our economic reforms are working. Nothing good comes easy,? he said. ?We pledged to confront Nigeria?s challenges head-on?rebuilding trust, fostering prosperity, and restoring our economic ambition. That journey is halfway complete.?

Tinubu insisted that only bold and sometimes painful decisions can secure a better future. ?We couldn?t afford to keep spending the future of our children and unborn generations. Through our Renewed Hope Agenda, we committed to stabilising the economy, improving national security, reducing corruption, reforming governance, and lifting Nigerians out of poverty.?

?If we had allowed the arbitrage in exchange rates to continue, that would have been the grandfather of corruption,? Tinubu said.

Reflecting on the administration?s progress since May 2023, the president acknowledged ongoing challenges but maintained that decisive action was necessary. ?We have eliminated arbitrage-driven multiple exchange rates and initiated far-reaching tax reforms,? he said. ?These steps have begun to attract foreign direct investment, which will create jobs, expand production, and improve the standard of living.?

Tinubu expressed gratitude to party stakeholders for their support and urged continued commitment to the administration?s goals. ?We are not at the finish line, but we are on the right path,? he concluded.

Opposition flays endorsements, says 2027 belongs to Nigerians

Reacting to the flurry of endorsements for President Tinubu?s second-term bid, opposition parties have dismissed the move as premature and unrepresentative of the Nigerian people?s will.

The Labour Party (LP) said it was not surprised by the actions of APC governors and lawmakers, describing them as expected.

?Nobody expected APC governors to endorse another candidate,? said LP?s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh. ?But let?s be clear: no opposition party or leader has endorsed Tinubu. At our level, we are focused on putting our house in order.?

Ifoh stressed that the political space remains fluid and that the real contest lies ahead. ?The 2027 election is not a sprint; it?s a marathon. With Tinubu?s current performance, it?s doubtful he?ll have an easy ride,? he said. He added that opposition parties are quietly strategising and building coalitions aimed at offering Nigerians a credible alternative.

Similarly, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) criticised the APC?s early endorsement, suggesting it reflects internal panic rather than confidence.

CUPP?s National Secretary, High Chief Peter Ameh, said Nigerians?not a party caucus?would ultimately decide who governs the country.

?The endorsement of Tinubu just two years into his term shows desperation,? Ameh stated. ?It?s a reaction to rising discontent and economic hardship across the country. Nigerians are suffering, and what they see is a ruling elite focused on power, not solutions,? he said.

He described the move as a calculated attempt to suppress dissent and manipulate the political process, warning that the electorate is more alert than ever. ?What happened in 2023 was only the beginning. Nigerians will not allow their will to be subverted in 2027,? Ameh said.

Both LP and CUPP called on citizens to remain vigilant and actively defend democratic values ahead of the next general election. ?The 2027 election will be a defining moment for Nigeria?s democracy. The power to shape the future lies with the people, not governors or party summits,? Ameh concluded. (Daily Trust)

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