The Federal Government has rejected claims by Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso that President Bola Tinubu could be defeated in the 2027 presidential election, with the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, expressing confidence that the ruling All Progressives Congress will retain power.
Musa made the declaration on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, shortly after Obi and Kwankwaso addressed supporters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on the prospects of the 2027 election.
The minister was responding to suggestions that growing dissatisfaction with the APC in parts of northern Nigeria could hurt Tinubu and the party at the polls. Musa dismissed the perception of widespread rejection, saying political views about the government's standing differed from one person to another.
“That’s a perception,” Musa said, arguing that some people were attempting to exploit public dissatisfaction with their circumstances to create the impression that the APC had lost its support base in the North.
Asked specifically whether the APC could lose Kaduna State in the 2027 elections, Musa expressed certainty that the party would retain the state.
“APC will win in Kaduna. That I know,” he said.
When asked whether his prediction included the presidential and governorship elections, Musa replied, “Definitely. Presidential, governorship, and all levels.”
Musa also defended the economic policies of the Tinubu administration, saying the President had taken what he described as painful decisions whose effects would gradually become clearer. He maintained that Nigerians would eventually understand the reasoning behind some of the government's reforms as their results emerge.
His comments came as Obi and Kwankwaso intensified their political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 election. The two opposition politicians, who are running together on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, had used a town hall meeting in Port Harcourt to urge voters to remain vigilant and protect their votes.
Obi warned that Nigerians should not allow their votes to be subverted at polling units. He said voters must be prepared to ensure that their ballots are properly counted and that the outcome of the election reflects the choices made at the polling stations.
The former Anambra State governor also raised concerns about the electoral process, including possible problems with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal, commonly known as IReV. He urged his supporters to remain organised and prepared to defend the integrity of their votes.
Kwankwaso, meanwhile, challenged the argument that the APC's control of more than 30 states would automatically translate into victory for Tinubu in the presidential election.
The former Kano State governor cited the 2015 presidential election, when then-President Goodluck Jonathan lost his re-election bid to Muhammadu Buhari despite being the incumbent president. According to Kwankwaso, the number of governors controlled by a political party cannot by itself determine the outcome of a presidential election.
Kwankwaso argued that voters would ultimately judge political parties and candidates based on their performance and the issues affecting citizens. He also criticised what he described as poor performance by some governors, particularly in the North, and urged Nigerians to avoid making what he called another costly political mistake in 2027.
The APC has also pushed back against the opposition's assessment of Tinubu's chances. National Secretary Ajibola Basiru described the predictions of an APC defeat as “cheap talk” and “wishful thinking,” insisting that the ruling party remains confident of winning the 2027 presidential election.
Basiru pointed to Buhari's 2019 re-election as another example of an incumbent president successfully securing a second term. He also questioned the organisational strength of the NDC, including its level of candidate coverage across the country, as part of his argument that political claims about the 2027 race should be judged against the realities of party organisation and electoral structures.
The exchange highlights the increasingly competitive political environment ahead of the 2027 general elections. The APC is presenting Tinubu's administration as one whose reforms require time to produce their expected benefits, while opposition figures are seeking to turn public concerns over governance and the economy into support for their challenge to the ruling party.
The battle for northern support is particularly important to the emerging contest. Musa's confidence in Kaduna and the wider North contrasts sharply with the opposition's efforts to convince voters that control of state governments does not guarantee presidential victory.
However, none of the competing predictions can determine the eventual result of the 2027 election. Musa's declaration that the APC will win, just like Obi and Kwankwaso's arguments that Tinubu can be defeated, are political positions and predictions rather than established electoral outcomes.
The 2027 contest is still ahead, and the eventual result will depend on the candidates and parties on the ballot, voter participation, campaign performance, political alliances and, ultimately, the votes cast and declared through the constitutional electoral process.
For now, the latest exchange shows that both sides are already positioning themselves for a closely contested political battle. The APC is projecting confidence in Tinubu's re-election prospects, while Obi and Kwankwaso are seeking to convince Nigerians that the ruling party's incumbency and control of numerous states do not guarantee another presidential victory.
As political mobilisation gathers momentum, debates over economic performance, northern support, electoral integrity and the credibility of competing political platforms are expected to remain central to Nigeria's road to the 2027 polls.
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