In a bold political forecast, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not secure a second term in the 2027 presidential election. The lawmaker, representing Abia South, attributes this prediction to the severe economic hardship and widespread public discontent currently facing the nation.
Abaribe's Scathing Assessment on National Television
Senator Abaribe made these declarations during an appearance on Channels Television's Politics Today program on Monday, December 16, 2025. He was directly responding to assertions that President Tinubu has never lost an election. "I do not think so. Everybody loses elections, and you will see when the time comes," Abaribe stated confidently. He added, "He will lose in 2027 because I know what Nigerians are feeling outside."
The senator argued that Nigerians are now more determined than ever to use their votes to demand a change in leadership, driven by the twin crises of a collapsing economy and persistent insecurity that have defined the current administration's tenure.
Controversial Claim: Tinubu 'Never Won' 2023
Deepening his critique, Abaribe ventured into a contentious area by questioning the legitimacy of President Tinubu's 2023 electoral victory. While acknowledging Tinubu as the constitutionally declared winner, the senator made a striking claim. "Tinubu never won the 2023 election, and everybody knows it," he asserted. "But he has been declared the winner. We acknowledge him as president."
He explained that while the opposition accepted the official outcome at the time, their strategy is to politically confront the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in future contests. "We are going to meet him in the field, and I will see how he is going to cobble together what will make him win again," Abaribe challenged.
Why 2027 Will Be Different, According to Abaribe
The senator insisted that the political landscape leading to the 2027 polls would be markedly different from previous cycles. He believes Nigerians have become more politically aware and vigilant, which will prevent any electoral manipulation.
"It won't work because this time everybody will be ready," he emphasized. "It will no longer be an announcement at 3 a.m. before people wake up in the morning. This time, people are ready, we are ready, and the masses are even more ready."
Abaribe further criticized the Tinubu administration's performance, describing the economy as collapsed and accusing it of failing to adequately tackle the country's security challenges. He posed a rhetorical question about where the President would find sufficient support to win another mandate under such dire conditions.
Firm Stance Against Defection to APC
In related remarks during the same interview, Senator Abaribe firmly dismissed any possibility of defecting to the ruling APC, despite a recent wave of high-profile defections from opposition parties. This statement came in reaction to the movement of several governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
Opposition Coalition and ADC Platform
Abaribe also reaffirmed his commitment to the coalition of opposition parties forming to challenge the APC in 2027. He confirmed that opposition leaders have adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a common platform for the upcoming contest. However, he dismissed speculation that this move was designed to impose former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as a consensus candidate, noting that the ADC is yet to release its guidelines and framework for the elections.
The senator's comments come amid significant political realignments, including the recent defection of Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, his deputy, and commissioners from the PDP to the APC—a move considered a major blow to the PDP's strength in the region.
