How Opposition Can Defeat APC In 2027 – Stakeholders

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…Say They Should Forge Strong Unity, Alliance

LAGOS – Following the recent Court of Appeal ruling which nul­lified the deregistration of the African Democratic Con­gress (ADC) and other polit­ical parties, the opposition parties are now expected to settle down to work out mo­dalities on how to confront the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to ensure that power changes hand in the 2027 general elections.

It would be recalled that the Court of Appeal’s three-man panel, a few days ago, nullified the Justice Peter Lifu’s Federal High Court, Abuja, ruling ask­ing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Demo­cratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and the Ze­nith Labour Party (ZLP).

Chief Martin Onovo, a sea­soned politician and the 2015 presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP), one of those who spoke to Sunday Independent, said that the nation’s opposition parties can defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), if they work in unity.

Onovo, currently the Head, Policy Positions, Movement for Fundamental Change (MFC), one of the stakeholders who spoke to Sunday Independent, stated that the winning strategy for the opposition is very clear and had been widely discussed and agreed.

Onovo stated: “The rogue ruling party knows that it is very unpopular and easy to de­feat democratically. The strate­gy of the rogue ruling party is very clear.

“It is heavily dependent on suppressing the opposition us­ing several schemes, including; spurious litigations against opposition parties, sponsored factions in opposition parties, deregistration of opposition parties, disenfranchisement of voters, use of thugs for violence, abuse of office by Police au­thority to harass and constrain opposition party officials, writ­ing and announcement of false results, false propaganda and corruption of the mass media.”

He also listed vote buying, declaration of false results us­ing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, as well as state cap­ture of the legislature and the judiciary.

Onovo stressed: “With this knowledge of the strategy of the ruling party, it is easy to frustrate their undemocratic and criminal schemes.

“However, significant hu­man resources are required to effectively counter their undem­ocratic and criminal schemes. A united opposition means more resources to robustly counter the undemocratic and criminal schemes of the ruling party.

“Therefore, the unity of the opposition is required to doubly guarantee the success of the op­position in the 2027 elections.

“This position is clear and widely accepted. It was dis­cussed and upheld at the oppo­sition parties summit hosted in Ibadan by HE Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.

“That required unity is also being implemented strategi­cally with the Obi/Kwakwan­so ticket and other opposition party tickets.

“The opposition is clearly ahead of the ruling party and set for success.”

Dr Bolaji Akinyemi, a Chris­tian activist and the Convener of the Apostolic Round Table (ART), stated that the Appeal Court ruling has given the oppo­sition a fresh opportunity—not merely to contest power, but to earn public trust.

According to him, their win­ning strategy should be to unite around a common national agenda, rather than individual ambitions, present a credible joint presidential ticket, and of­fer practical solutions on securi­ty, the economy, jobs, education, and governance.

Akinyemi stressed: “They must move beyond criticising the ruling party to demonstrat­ing competence, discipline, and internal democracy.

“By engaging citizens con­sistently, mobilising young people and women, protecting the integrity of the vote, and running a solutions-driven cam­paign anchored on hope and ac­countability, the opposition can transform itself from a protest movement into a credible gov­erning alternative.”

Professor John Ebhomien, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, said that with the Appeal Court clearing the path, the opposition parties now have breathing space to reorganise.

He said that to win in 2027, the opposition needs more than just being “not the ruling party.”

He said that a four-part win­ning strategy includes unity over ego, adding that fragmen­tation killed the opposition in 2023.

Ebhomien, a former United Nations Consultant, stated that the opposition should form a broad coalition or at least agree on zoning, candidate se­lection, and not fielding spoilers against each other, adding that one strong joint platform beats three weak ones.

He also called for an is­sue-based campaign, saying, “2027 voters will care about cost of living, insecurity, power, jobs, and youth opportunity.

“Opposition must present a clear, costed manifesto with credible messengers — gover­nors, technocrats, and young leaders — not just recycled names.

On grassroots and data, Ebhomien stated: “Winning requires structure in all 774 LGAs. Invest early in polling agents, voter education, and data to track voter apathy and turnout. Protect the vote with legal teams and situation rooms from day one.”

Also, he touched the issue of rebuilding trust, saying that the opposition should address the perception of elite infighting.

“Do town halls, own mis­takes, and recruit new faces, especially women and youth to signal renewal. The ruling was a reset, not a guarantee.

“If opposition parties coordi­nate, speak to real pain points, and run a disciplined ground game, 2027 becomes competitive.”

Tola Oresanwo, an activist, is the Director, Administra­tion and Programmes, Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL).

Speaking with Sunday Inde­pendent at the weekend, he said the opposition parties, especial­ly the restored African Demo­cratic Congress (ADC) and the others, should prioritise unity, issue-based mobilisation, and grassroots organisation.

Oresanwo stated: “They should consider forming a broad, credible coalition that pools structures, candidates, and resources rather than frag­menting votes.

“They should also resolve internal leadership disputes quickly to present a single, co­herent front and avoid unnec­essary litigations.

“Focus campaigns on con­crete problems like cost of liv­ing, insecurity, unemployment, infrastructure, and governance failures backed by clear-cut al­ternatives instead of personal attacks.

“They must also invest heav­ily in voter education, digital outreach, and rural mobilisa­tion while monitoring the elec­toral process through trained agents and legal readiness.

“They must also build trust by fielding competent, inclusive tickets that reflect Nigeria’s di­versity.

“Success in 2027 will depend less on court victories and more on convincing a weary elector­ate that the opposition offers competent, accountable gover­nance than what is presently obtained.”

Bishop Herbert Ekechuk­wu, a Christian leader and pub­lic affairs commentator, said the victory is a legal boost and it will matter if the victory is converted into votes, structure and trust.

Dr Ekechukwu stated: “Peo­ple vote on what affects them not just court rulings. To obtain victory at the polls the following need to be done.

“Fix the internal party struc­ture. Most of the opposition parties lack party structure and internal party democracy. They should settle primaries, zoning and leadership tussles.

“National leaders and state leaders should visit aggrieved members, bring them back be­fore others take them.

“Opposition parties should have clear policies on economy, security, cost of living and job creation.

“The opposition parties should carry out a massive voter registration drive, PVC registration and collection, es­pecially targeting the youth.

“Recruit and train party agents for the 176,846 polling units. Elections are won, lost or rigged at the polling units.

“Parties should have ward level data, knowing strongholds, swing areas and weak areas and put more resources in the swing areas.

“The opposition should come together and have an alli­ance based on issues and strat­egies. Parties should project on messages that win elections.

“Issue based messages like what you will do in the first 100 days in office on economy, par­ticularly on food production and prices, transport, job creation, SME support, on security, like solutions to insecurity in Ni­geria.

“Lastly, a court victory gives you credibility. The 2027 election victory will come from unity; first, internal party unity, and secondly, unity among the op­position parties; early organi­sation, clear economic messag­es, polling units structure and protection of votes, making sure that the votes will count and counted correctly.”