The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, has declared that internal party polls indicate President Bola Tinubu is leading all competitors ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Speaking on Channels Television's Sunday Politics, Yilwatda asserted that the party had conducted fact-finding and polls across Nigeria's states, with results showing a clear advantage for the incumbent.
Internal Polls and Party Confidence
Yilwatda stated, "We have done fact-finding; we are leading. We have done our polls. We have our own polls that give us the real statistics across the states." When pressed on whether those figures showed Tinubu winning outright, he replied, "Of course!"
The APC chairman dismissed opposition threats, naming the African Democratic Congress (ADC), linked to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), associated with former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, as the two main challengers. He argued that neither party had demonstrated the ability to win elections in the lead-up to 2027, which he said worked in the APC's favour.
Comparing Tinubu and Atiku
Yilwatda also directly compared Tinubu with Atiku Abubakar, describing the incumbent president as "far better" than the former vice-president. This comparison underscores the APC's strategy of contrasting its candidate with the opposition.
The APC chairman's remarks come amid ongoing political maneuvering, with opposition parties reportedly raising alarms over an alleged funding gap with the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
Economy and Fuel Prices
Defending the Tinubu administration's record, Yilwatda pointed to tax reforms as evidence of progress, saying they had widened the tax base, grown government revenue, and delivered benefits to Nigeria's poorest citizens. He also highlighted shifts in the power sector, noting that state governments had been given authority to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity independently.
Yilwatda acknowledged rising fuel costs were causing hardship but insisted the situation was temporary. He stated, "What we are passing through in Nigeria, for example, at this moment, is temporary. The increase in the cost of fuel is temporary. Nigerians believe in us."
Previous Predictions and Outlook
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that ChatGPT predicted the APC would likely win Nigeria's 2027 presidential election, using the Four Horsemen framework. It cited the opposition coalition but said the APC had the edge due to possible low voter turnout and the Tinubu administration's efforts to stabilise the economy.
The APC chairman's confidence in internal polls suggests the ruling party is positioning itself for a strong campaign, while the opposition continues to strategize. The 2027 election remains a key focus for all political stakeholders in Nigeria.
