The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has firmly stated that the region will not align with the North-East or North-West in any coalition ahead of the 2027 general election.
This declaration follows speculations that key opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Governors Nasir El-Rufai and Rotimi Amaechi, and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, are working to form an alliance against President Bola Tinubu.
Tensions escalated after these politicians criticized Tinubu’s administration during the National Conference on Strengthening Democracy in Nigeria, held on January 27, 2025, in Abuja. At the event, El-Rufai urged opposition parties to unite and challenge the ruling APC.
In a statement released in Abuja, the North-Central APC Forum, led by Chairman Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, emphasized that the region does not want to repeat its 2015 experience. Despite playing a crucial role in forming the APC and bringing former President Muhammadu Buhari to power, the North-Central felt sidelined during his administration, as key political positions and infrastructure projects favored the North-East and North-West.
The Forum also dismissed the planned coalition as self-serving, claiming that figures like Atiku and El-Rufai are pushing their own interests rather than those of their regions. It reaffirmed its commitment to Tinubu, expressing confidence in his re-election, citing what they expect to be his administration’s strong performance.
This development highlights the complex regional power struggles shaping Nigeria’s political landscape as the 2027 election approaches.
