The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has dismissed the All Progressives Congress (APC) victory in four out of five by-elections, saying the results are not sufficient to guarantee victory for the ruling party in 2027.
Reacting to the polls, SDP National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, said the more important contest was the Osun governorship election, which the APC lost despite intimidation and the deployment of federal might, stressing that the Osun experience would be replicated in 2027.
“The electoral ‘successes’ being celebrated by the APC in the isolated by-elections are not in any way sufficient yardsticks to determine an assured path to victory for the ruling party in 2027, particularly considering the more important Osun governorship election, which it lost,” he said.
On Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo’s claim that the by-elections signpost 2027, Aiyenigba said it amounted to self-delusion for the administration to think the next election had already been decided, given the worsening insecurity, poverty, and poor state of the economy.
“It is early in the day for Keyamo to be chest-beating about what the outcome of 2027 would be. Nigerians will ultimately decide the outcome, not press statements, wishful thinking, or propaganda by government appointees seeking to keep their jobs,” he added.
