The National Vice Chairman (North-East) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Mustapha Salihu, has downplayed the possibility of former President Goodluck Jonathan and ex-Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi posing any real challenge to the ruling party in the 2027 elections under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Sunday, Salihu argued that the PDP is “technically non-existent” and lacks the cohesion or structure to mount a serious presidential bid.
“Jonathan is a gentleman and a patriotic Nigerian, but when it comes to performance, the difference between his six years and President Tinubu’s two years is clear,” Salihu said.
“We inherited what seemed like insurmountable security and economic challenges, yet we have stabilised critical sectors, taken courageous decisions, and achieved visible results. Jonathan does not have the political acumen to take the tough decisions required at this time.”
He alleged that those calling for Jonathan’s return to the PDP were motivated by personal ambition rather than genuine concern for Nigeria’s future.
“Some of them were part of his government and want to rule the country by proxy. Nigerians will not subscribe to that,” he said, noting that internal divisions within the PDP make a Jonathan comeback improbable.
Turning to Peter Obi, Salihu criticised the former Anambra State governor’s political approach after the 2023 polls, claiming he squandered the momentum gained from his strong youth support base.
“Obi had a near revolution in 2023, but after losing, he abandoned his governorship candidates. If he had supported them, he could have had at least seven governors today as a launchpad for the future. Instead, he made alliances that brought him no political advantage and now lacks the structure to win a presidential election in Nigeria,” Salihu argued.
The APC chieftain maintained that the ruling party remains firmly in control and ready for any electoral contest.
“We are not panicking or shaking. We have the structure, leadership ability, achievements, and organisational capacity to prosecute an election any day, any time. No party in Nigeria today can match the APC,” he declared.
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