Dr. Bashir Lamido, the pioneer leader of Arewa Summit International, has dismissed the possibility of incumbent President Ahmed Bola Tinubu losing re-election in 2027. He asserts that the calibre of political heavyweights supporting the president’s campaign makes it virtually impossible for him to face defeat.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the Abuja Expo and the Ruhe Global Resources International Education Fair on Wednesday, Lamido highlighted prominent politicians—Abdul’aziz Yari, Orji Uzor Kalu, Abdullahi Ganduje, and James Ibori—whose backing of Tinubu, he believes, will weaken the opposition and secure victory for the APC.
He raised doubts about the opposition coalition’s ability to form a united front ahead of the 2027 presidential elections. “When considering whether the coalition can wrest power from the ruling party, one must ask a critical question: can they agree?” Lamido remarked. He pointed out that the primary opposition parties, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), are currently mired in severe internal conflicts. “Does the Social Democratic Party (SDP) possess the capability to lead a coalition for 2027?” he queried.
He further questioned, “Who will be the candidate? Will it be Atiku Abubakar or Peter Obi? Nasir El-Rufai or Yemi Osinbajo? Rotimi Amaechi or Bukola Saraki?” Lamido noted that all these figures harbour presidential aspirations and are unlikely to relinquish their ambitions for anyone else.
“However,” he continued, “Tinubu is both smart and strategic. At one point, people speculated that Senator Abdul’aziz Yari, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, and Chief James Ibori might ally with the opposition to unseat the president. I’ve learned that Nasir El-Rufai endeavoured to create rifts between the president and Abdullahi Ganduje by assigning him ambassadorial duty in Saudi Arabia. Yet today, the president has solidified his bond with them, and they are now his reliable allies. All four of these individuals are presidential contenders but have already pledged their support to the president. With such backing, he cannot lose.”
As he elaborated, he stated, “While the coalition struggles to solidify its position, the president’s supporters are already making significant moves. Yari is undertaking substantial empowerment initiatives in the North, while Kalu is doing the same in the South, with others following suit. A presidential source once revealed that they regularly meet with the president. Thus, there is direction, purpose, and a clear strategy for victory.”
Regarding Tinubu’s economic policies, Lamido expressed concern that the president’s key reforms are placing considerable strain on ordinary Nigerians, many of whom are already experiencing difficult living conditions. However, he contended that while this hardship is unavoidable in the short term, it is essential for achieving a more robust and stable economy in the long run.
