A member of the House of Representatives, Elder Leke Joseph Abejide, has said the opposition lacks the political strength to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 general election, citing the outcome of the just-concluded Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council polls, held Saturday 21st February, 2026 as a strong reference point.
Abejide, who represents Yagba East/West/Mopamuro Federal Constituency of Kogi State, said the performance of opposition parties in the election showed they were not well-positioned to challenge the ruling party at the national level.
Results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) showed that the All Progressives Congress won five of the six area council chairmanship seats, while the Peoples Democratic Party secured one, but the African Democratic Congress failed.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Sunday after the announcement of the results, Abejide said the outcome reflected the current political reality in the country.
He said, “The FCT election has demonstrated clearly that the opposition does not presently have the strength to unseat President Tinubu in 2027. It is important for political parties to assess their capacity realistically and take decisions that will strengthens their future — by collapsing structures to supporting Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda”.
The lawmaker, who is also the National Leader and Chairman, Board of Patrons of the ADC, called on opposition parties to adopt a pragmatic approach—joining force with Mr President in the overall interest of the nation ahead of the next general election.
He said aligning with the President’s re-election bid would help consolidate governance and provide an opportunity for parties like the ADC to strengthening their internal structures.
Abejide noted that his party’s recent electoral performance, including the 2025 by-elections in 16 constituencies across the federation by which it failed to secure any seat, underscored the need for strategic realignment.
He added that supporting Tinubu’s second term would contribute to political stability and enable opposition parties to repositioning themselves for future electoral contests.
He urged party stakeholders and Nigerians to support efforts aimed at strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring continuity in governance.
