Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, asserts that Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party lack the regional influence necessary to challenge President Bola Tinubu in Northern Nigeria. Speaking at a gathering in Kano, Ganduje stated that these opposition figures are unable to gather the electoral momentum required to secure a victory in the 2027 presidential race.
Highlighting the region’s pivotal role in national elections, Ganduje dismissed the opposition’s capacity to threaten the incumbent’s standing. Beyond individual candidates, he criticized the current landscape of the Nigerian party system. He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to impose stricter requirements for party registration. According to Ganduje, the electoral body should prioritize organizations that demonstrate genuine national reach, established ideologies, and operational infrastructure rather than allowing a proliferation of minor parties.
