The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has cautioned opposition parties in Nigeria not to be overly excited by the defeat of US Vice President Kamala Harris in the recent presidential election, emphasizing that President Bola Tinubu is poised to secure victory again in 2027.
Former President Donald Trump was declared the winner of the US presidential election on Wednesday, marking a significant comeback that surprised many around the globe.
The 78-year-old businessman’s triumph makes him the 47th president and the oldest individual to win the White House.
Reacting to the development, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, described the US election as a “true test of democracy” and noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could learn valuable lessons from the process.
Ifoh highlighted that the American electorate’s disregard for the incumbency factor, a dominant influence in African elections, was noteworthy.
Similarly, Ladipo Johnson, the spokesperson for the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), commented on the longstanding complexity of the US electoral system and expressed hope for a future in which Nigeria would overcome the practice of incumbents using their power and security apparatus to intimidate opposition parties.
However, APC National Publicity Director Bala Ibrahim urged the opposition not to become overly confident due to the US election result, stressing that electoral processes in Nigeria and the US are distinct.
Speaking to Punch, Ibrahim pointed out that incumbency does not always guarantee victory, as demonstrated by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2015 win over then-incumbent Goodluck Jonathan.
Ibrahim expressed confidence that Nigerians would soon appreciate the benefits of President Tinubu’s economic reforms, which would likely secure public support for his continued leadership.
He added that the party remained unperturbed by opposition threats and stressed that the country’s leadership would not be left to those grappling with internal crises.
He said, “With the way and manner this administration of APC is working assiduously, bringing in new reforms and changes that are painful initially, we will reap the gains and fruits in the long run.
“We expect to start seeing the fruits of these reforms right around the time of the election. That should be around 2026 and 2027. It is at that time people will start clapping for the party and the president.
“It will be almost impossible for someone to come from the outside, particularly an outsider that has failed the country before; an outsider that cannot contain its own crisis, to think of defeating the incumbent. It will be very difficult. The APC and the president are very much aware of this expectation and shenanigans of the opposition.
“But it is not to say that the party and the president are sleeping. No, they are strategising ahead. So, when we get to the bridge, we will see who have the strongest stride to cross it. And I assure you, the APC will not be found nothing. It will not be caught napping.”