Tinubu Strengthens Grip on Power as Opposition Weakens Ahead of 2027

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has solidified his hold on power ahead of the next elections in 2027, according to recent political activity in the nation.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) seems to have weakened, divided, and increasingly appropriated the opposition.

According to experts, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) hegemony under Obasanjo is reminiscent of the consolidation of power under Tinubu.

In Nigeria’s political history, the 2003 elections under the Obasanjo-led government marked a turning point.

Opposition parties were reduced to a ghost of their former selves when the PDP won the majority of state governorships and an overwhelming majority in the national legislature.

Tinubu’s APC seems to be playing by the same rules ahead of 2027. The promise of patronage, financial incentives, and political importance are all luring opposition figures to defect in large numbers.

Many opposition leaders are under pressure from their supporters, who view joining the ruling party as a means of gaining access to opportunities and money.

Political observers claim that although Tinubu’s consolidation of power demonstrates his political savvy, it also highlights the structural flaws in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

As the 2027 elections draw near, opposition parties face the difficult task of not just surviving but also redefining themselves as respectable substitutes that may regain the trust of a disillusioned populace.

“There is a lot at risk. Nigeria runs the risk of reverting to a one-party dominating system, similar to that of the early 2000s, where electoral competition only exists in name, if the opposition is unable to come together and put up a united front.

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According to Professor Omo Omoruyi of the renowned Centre for Democratic Studies, “the opposition must find a way to resist co-optation, rebuild its grassroots support, and challenge the pervasive culture of patronage that continues to shape Nigerian politics” if democracy is to flourish.