Dr Abdullahi Ganduje

Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), derisively waved off the possibility of opposition merger for the 2027 general elections. He said the coalition would be a stillbirth.

Ganduje said this on Friday while speaking to journalists after leading the APC National Working Committee on a Sallah homage to former President Muhammadu Buhari at his residence in Kaduna State.

When asked about ongoing discussions among major opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Ganduje was quick to brush aside any notion of a serious threat to the ruling party.

He said, “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. It is a game, and we will not reveal our technicalities on how to handle it, but we assure you, we are equal to the task.”

The APC chairman touted the party’s political dominance, noting its control of 21 states and declaring it “still the strongest party in West Africa.”

He added that the APC was not only focused on maintaining its hold on power but also expanding its influence ahead of the 2027 polls.

“We are eyeing other states that will come into our fold. Either the governors themselves will come, or we go for election and defeat them to increase our tally. We are comfortable, but we are not resting. We shall continue,” Ganduje added.

Ganduje’s comments followed an earlier visit by the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, who also met with the former president.

Atiku, flanked by a delegation of notable political figures, including former governors Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Jibrilla Bindow (Adamawa), and Achike Udenwa (Imo), said the visit was strictly a post-Sallah courtesy call.

“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,” Atiku clarified while addressing reporters.