The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s optimism over the recent wave of defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC), warning that the move will not guarantee him electoral success in 2027.
CUPP’s stance comes in response to President Tinubu’s confident remarks regarding his party’s increasing strength following a series of high-profile defections from opposition parties.
Tinubu’s Confidence Amid Growing Opposition
President Tinubu, in his recent address, dismissed concerns about the emerging coalition of opposition parties, projecting confidence that the APC remains the dominant force in Nigeria’s political landscape. This follows reports that the ruling APC now controls about 70 seats in the Senate after four serving senators from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defected to its fold.
The party also boasts 23 state governors nationwide, a figure that the president has highlighted as a testament to the APC’s wide-reaching influence ahead of the next general elections.
However, CUPP maintains that Tinubu’s public show of strength masks the reality of an administration rattled by an increasingly united opposition determined to unseat him in 2027.
Defectors Lack Political Value – CUPP
Speaking on the development, CUPP’s National Secretary, Chief Peter Ameh, dismissed the president’s claims, describing them as superficial and unconvincing.
According to Ameh, the politicians defecting to the APC are of little or no electoral value and will not contribute meaningfully to the president’s re-election efforts.
“The president’s superficial display of strength should not be taken seriously,” Ameh said in a statement on Thursday.
He explained that the defectors were products of the opposition’s influence in their respective constituencies and, therefore, hold no independent political weight to bolster Tinubu’s chances at the polls.
“Those switching sides lack significant political value, having relied on the influence of opposition leaders to secure their own elections. Their defections carry little weight,” he said.
Tinubu Standing On ‘Sinking Ground’
CUPP further asserted that President Tinubu’s growing anxiety is evident in his recent comments, noting that the president is becoming increasingly unsettled by the opposition’s resolve.
“The president is only trying to show confidence, knowing that opposition to his administration is gaining strength by the day and has remained steadfast,” the CUPP said.
The coalition maintained that despite the defections, Tinubu is standing on sinking ground as 2027 approaches, insisting there will be no escape for him at the polls.
Analysts React
Political analysts have observed that while defections may boost a party’s numerical strength in the legislature, their electoral impact remains questionable.
Dr. Mukhtar Bakare, a political scientist at the University of Abuja, noted, “In Nigeria’s political culture, defections are often driven by personal interests rather than loyalty to party ideologies, and their impact on elections is usually minimal if the grassroots remain unconvinced.”
The Road to 2027
As Nigeria inches closer to the 2027 general elections, both the ruling party and the opposition are intensifying strategies to secure voter loyalty amid widespread economic hardship, insecurity, and public dissatisfaction.
The coming months are expected to witness more political realignments as parties prepare for what promises to be a fiercely contested presidential election.
