Salihu: Nigerians' Frustration Spells Doom for APC in 2027 Elections

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) faces a formidable challenge to its legitimacy in the upcoming 2027 general elections, according to Ladan Salihu, a prominent chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Salihu asserts that President Bola Tinubu’s administration will not pass the integrity and credibility test at the polls, encountering the full force of Nigerians’ anger and frustration. His pronouncements, made during a Channels Television interview on Sunday Politics, April 26, 2026, set the stage for a contentious election cycle.

Salihu unequivocally states the APC government’s inability to garner public trust. “When it comes to credible elections and elections that are based on integrity, this government will fail the integrity and credibility test at the polls,” he declares. He emphasizes that the current administration will not measure up to the deep-seated frustrations of the Nigerian populace, signalling a bumpy ride for the ruling party.

Beyond the APC’s electoral prospects, the ADC chieftain also intensifies his party’s demand for the immediate resignation or removal of Prof. Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Salihu levels accusations of alleged bias against Amupitan, a charge the electoral body vehemently denies, consistently maintaining its chairman’s neutrality.

The Call for Amupitan's Ouster

Salihu spares no words in his criticism of the INEC boss. He labels Amupitan as the nation’s “number one persona non grata” in public service, arguing that he has demonstrably failed both integrity and competency tests. “He has not presented himself as that impartial, credible umpire that can give Nigeria, a nation of 250 million people, an election to celebrate,” Salihu insists, painting a picture of an electoral commission chairman who, by his actions and utterances, “scandalises every person that has integrity in Nigeria.”

The ADC stalwart firmly believes that Prof. Amupitan has forfeited the confidence not just of opposition parties, but also of ordinary Nigerians who yearn for national progress. This erosion of trust, Salihu argues, makes Amupitan’s continued leadership untenable as the country gears up for 2027.

When pressed on whether the ADC would boycott elections conducted under Amupitan’s watch, Salihu remains strategic. He affirms that participation in elections remains a “constitutional responsibility” for the leading opposition movement. While no definitive decision on a boycott emerges, Salihu makes it clear: if Amupitan refuses to step down or is not removed, the opposition’s campaign for his ouster will only intensify in the run-up to the elections.

APC's Jitters and Opposition's Resolve

Despite their commanding political footprint, Salihu claims the APC is deeply “jittery and afraid” of the opposition ahead of the 2027 polls. This fear persists even though the ruling party controls 31 states and holds a significant majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Salihu points to the 2023 elections, where the APC secured 23 governorships, later expanding its control to 31 states through what he describes as intimidation, harassment, and coercion. Yet, he asserts, this numerical dominance does not translate to genuine public support. “They have 31 governors, they have control of the Senate and the House, but they don’t have control of the people,” he states emphatically, highlighting a critical disconnect between political power and popular mandate.

The ADC, Salihu concludes with confidence, anticipates victory in 2027. He insists that Nigerians are weary of the APC’s perceived failures and its inability to deliver on its responsibilities. The stage is set for a political rumble, with the opposition signalling a fierce battle for the nation’s future.