December 15, 2025 — Dalena Reporters
Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will lose the 2027 presidential election, insisting that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate did not legitimately win the 2023 presidential poll.
Abaribe made the assertion during a political interview monitored by Channels Television, where he accused the ruling party of benefiting from what he described as a flawed electoral process that failed to reflect the true will of Nigerian voters. According to him, the outcome of the 2023 election continues to generate legitimacy questions that the Tinubu administration has been unable to overcome.
The Abia South senator argued that worsening economic conditions, rising cost of living, insecurity, and public dissatisfaction with governance would make it difficult for the President to secure a second term. He said Nigerians are already bearing the brunt of policy decisions that have deepened hardship across the country.
“Tinubu did not win the 2023 election, and he will lose again in 2027,” Abaribe said, maintaining that the opposition has learned critical lessons from previous elections and would mobilise more effectively ahead of the next general polls.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain further accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of failing to uphold transparency during the last election, particularly with the handling of electronic transmission of results. He insisted that electoral reforms remain critical if Nigeria’s democracy is to regain public trust.
Reacting to claims that incumbency advantage could favour Tinubu in 2027, Abaribe dismissed the argument, stating that incumbency cannot compensate for widespread public anger and economic distress. He added that Nigerian voters are increasingly politically aware and prepared to hold leaders accountable through the ballot.
The comments have sparked reactions across the political spectrum, with APC supporters dismissing Abaribe’s claims as opposition rhetoric, while critics of the government say the remarks reflect growing discontent within the polity.
President Tinubu won the 2023 presidential election amid legal challenges from opposition parties, which were ultimately dismissed by the courts. However, debates over the credibility of the process have continued to shape political discourse.
As Nigeria gradually enters the pre‑election phase ahead of 2027, Abaribe’s statement underscores intensifying political rivalry and signals the likelihood of a highly contested race, as opposition figures sharpen their criticism of the ruling party and its leadership.