By Emmanuel Kwada
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has expressed unwavering confidence in the party’s dominance and its plans to expand its control beyond the 21 states it currently governs.
Speaking to journalists after leading the APC National Working Committee (NWC) to visit former President Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna, Ganduje declared that the party is poised to bring more states into its fold, either through defections or electoral victories.
“Even though we’re talking about 21 states, we’re also eyeing other states that will come into our fold, either the governors themselves will come or we go for election and we defeat them,” Ganduje said, emphasizing the APC’s ambition to deepen its political influence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Even though we’re talking about 21 states, we’re also eyeing other states that will come into our fold, either the governors themselves will come or we go for election and we defeat them
He described the party as “the strongest in West Africa,” underscoring its readiness to consolidate and expand its grip on power.
Ganduje’s comments come amid speculations of a potential opposition coalition, sparked by a recent visit to Buhari by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Atiku was accompanied by prominent opposition figures, including former governors Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Jibrilla Bindow (Adamawa), and Achike Udenwa (Imo). The visit fueled rumors of a possible northern alliance to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s administration in 2027.
The opposition’s moves, describing any talk of a merger as “a joint venture that will fail
However, Ganduje dismissed concerns about the opposition’s moves, describing any talk of a merger as “a joint venture that will fail.” He stated, “We are not worried at all. This is just history trying to repeat itself. They went on a joint venture which will not work because from what we have seen, there are just some particles that cannot come together.”
The APC chairman assured supporters that the party has strategies in place to counter any opposition plans, though he refrained from revealing specifics.
The strongest in West Africa
Atiku, addressing the press after his meeting with Buhari, clarified that the visit was a post-Sallah courtesy call and not politically motivated. “There is a plan for the major political parties to come together and form a strong opposition, but it is not part of our visit,” he said.
He later shared on his verified X handle that the meeting was a “wonderful time” with Buhari, praising the former president’s humor.
We are not worried at all. This is just history trying to repeat itself
The flurry of visits to Buhari, including one by APC governors earlier in the week, has heightened political intrigue as Nigeria approaches the 2027 election cycle.
For now, Ganduje remains optimistic, asserting that the APC is “comfortable but not resting” as it works to strengthen its hold on power and capture additional states.
Read Also: Our visit to Buhari not about 2027 coalition – Atiku
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