Opposition voices from different political platforms have intensified calls for the removal of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections, citing what they describe as a deepening governance and democratic crisis in Nigeria.
The African Democratic Congress, (ADC), said ending Tinubu’s tenure is central to rescuing the country. Speaking on a television programme at the weekend, the party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, declared that the opposition’s focus was unequivocal.
“It’s solely to get Tinubu out of power. That is the agenda. There is no scenario where he remains in power and we are able to save this country”, Abdullahi said, alleging that Nigeria had been “hijacked” under the current administration.
He accused the Federal Government of actions he likened to “banditry,” arguing that some policy decisions reflected a culture of impunity. Abdullahi also alleged legislative manipulation, particularly around recent tax laws, describing it as unprecedented in Nigeria’s democratic history. “A government that can forge a duly passed law; what do you call that?” he queried.
The ADC spokesperson further criticised the reported payment of $9 million by the Federal Government to foreign lobbyists in the United States, questioning the transparency and priorities behind the expenditure. “If you invest nine million dollars in internal security, you will see results”, he said, accusing the government of prioritising international image over domestic security challenges.
Abdullahi also raised concerns over a reported medical Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria and the United States, allegedly signed in December without public disclosure, warning that its terms could have implications for sovereignty and accountability.
In a similar vein, a presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Gbenga Hashim, declared that the APC would be voted out of power in 2027, insisting that no legal or administrative manoeuvres could derail Nigeria’s multiparty democracy. In a statement issued by his media office in Kaduna, Hashim alleged that the ruling party was engaging in legal and institutional actions aimed at weakening opposition participation ahead of the next election cycle, describing the trend as a threat to democratic competition. “These developments mirror past attempts to undermine political pluralism in Nigeria”, Hashim stated, drawing parallels with the Abacha era, and warned against any drift towards authoritarian or one-party rule.
He reaffirmed that Nigeria’s founding fathers deliberately entrenched multiparty democracy in the Constitution, insisting that the system would endure despite current pressures.
Hashim further expressed concern over what he described as selective administrative decisions in political party registration, alleging that some associations perceived to be aligned with the ruling party were favoured.
Both Abdullahi and Hashim called on Nigerians to remain vigilant, expressing confidence that the APC could be removed peacefully and constitutionally through the ballot in 2027, as they urged transparency, accountability and strict adherence to democratic norms.
