Former presidential aide, Laolu Akande, has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) is structurally more prepared than any opposition party to retain power in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Thursday, July 24, during Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Akande assessed recent political shifts and realignments, suggesting that the ruling party remains more organised despite its internal wranglings.
“I think APC has better arrangements,” he said, arguing that opposition parties lack a coherent structure and clear political identity.
He criticised the opposition for being driven by what he described as personal vendettas rather than policy alternatives.
“The characters at the forefront are not the ones that can get the job done. Nigerians would not be inspired by the same old personal vendetta politics,” he said.
While he acknowledged the need for fresh leadership in Nigerian politics, Akande said most of those emerging from the opposition still reflect the same old order. “We need new faces, but they still have old folks,” he remarked.
Furthermore, Akande criticised Labour Party’s 2023 vice presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, who declared that Peter Obi could contest the 2027 presidency without him.
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Akande said the comment was a sign of deeper disunity within the LP.
“If the coalition is serious, Datti should be at the forefront to assure Nigerians of real change,” he said.
He also faulted the Labour Party’s structure, saying it lacks a clear manifesto and defined leadership, while also questioning the alignment between Obi and Baba-Ahmed, describing their partnership as fragile.
On the internal politics of the APC, Akande said the anticipated appointment of a new party chairman could help President Bola Tinubu consolidate support.
“I think it is reasonable that there would be a new chairman today,” he noted, referring to Wednesday’s meeting of APC leaders at the Presidential Villa.
“There’s a visible onslaught toward the APC, but it’s easier to see where things are headed within the ruling party,” he added, dismissing recent opposition realignments as “largely superficial.”
Akande wrapped up by calling for a more civically engaged electorate and a political culture focused on national challenges like poverty reduction, anti-corruption, and institutional reforms.