Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South Senatorial District, has predicted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will fail to secure re-election in the 2027 general elections. The lawmaker made the assertion during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he argued that the political dynamics that produced the 2023 outcome would not be replicated.
According to Abaribe, President Tinubu did not genuinely win the 2023 presidential election, despite the official declaration of results and subsequent judicial affirmations. He maintained that opposition parties are more determined and strategically positioned to prevent a repeat outcome in 2027, insisting that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will face stronger resistance at the polls.
Official figures from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) show that Tinubu secured approximately 8.79 million votes about 36.6 percent of the total during the February 25, 2023, presidential election. The Supreme Court later upheld his victory in October 2023 after dismissing legal challenges filed by rival candidates. However, Abaribe contended that legal validation does not necessarily translate into popular legitimacy.
The senator further linked growing public dissatisfaction to prevailing economic conditions across the country. He cited rising inflation and increasing cost of living pressures as key factors that could erode support for the APC-led federal government. With inflation recorded at 14.8 percent in November, Abaribe argued that many Nigerians are feeling the strain of economic hardship, which could significantly influence voter behavior in the next election cycle.
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Emphasizing confidence in the opposition’s prospects, Abaribe stated that when the contest resumes in 2027, President Tinubu will struggle to present a convincing case for continuity. His comments underscore the persistent political divisions that have lingered since the 2023 elections, even as Nigeria remains more than two years away from the next presidential vote.