By The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has cautioned opposition parties in Nigeria against celebrating the recent defeat of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election, expressing confidence that President Bola Tinubu will secure a decisive victory again in 2027.
On Wednesday, former U.S. President Donald Trump was declared the winner in a dramatic comeback that saw him defeat Harris, making him the 47th president and the oldest person to assume the role.
Reacting to the development, Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifo, described the U.S. election, which garnered global attention, as a robust display of democracy. He suggested that Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission could learn from the American approach, where the incumbency factor did not sway voters, a challenge still prevalent in many African electoral systems, including Nigeria’s.
Similarly, New Nigeria Peoples Party spokesman, Ladipo Johnson, acknowledged the complexity and maturity of the U.S. electoral system, while expressing hope that Nigeria might one day move past leaders relying on incumbency power and security resources to influence elections.
However, APC’s National Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, advised opposition parties not to draw parallels with the U.S. election, emphasizing the differences in electoral systems. Ibrahim cited the example of Muhammadu Buhari’s victory over incumbent Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, illustrating that Nigeria’s voters can speak decisively when unified.
Ibrahim expressed confidence that Nigerians would recognize the benefits of the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms by 2026-2027, leading to widespread support for his re-election. He added that the APC is preparing strategically for the next election, firmly committed to continuing its governance agenda and ensuring the country’s leadership remains under APC’s stewardship.
“With the proactive measures and reforms the APC government is implementing, although initially challenging, we anticipate they will yield positive outcomes over time,” Ibrahim stated. “As the election period approaches, we believe the results of these reforms will resonate with the public, making an outsider’s victory unlikely—especially one with past leadership failures and ongoing internal crises.
