APC Secretary Basiru Says Only Major Parties Can Win National Elections in Nigeria

|By Chinwendu Nwani

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, says any politician serious about winning elections in Nigeria must align with established political parties, particularly the ruling APC or the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking on Arise News, Basiru argued that the APC remains the most proven political platform for securing electoral victory, describing it as the strongest political machinery in the country.

He said opposition coalitions preparing for the 2027 general elections have not demonstrated electoral strength or credibility, insisting they currently lack a record of winning national contests.

“Aside from the PDP, APC remains the strongest political machinery for winning elections in Nigeria today,” Basiru said.

He added that many emerging political alliances were yet to establish themselves as serious contenders, describing them as distractions rather than viable alternatives.

According to him, political success in Nigeria is anchored on parties with tested electoral structures and nationwide reach.

The APC came to power in 2015 after a major merger of opposition parties in 2013, culminating in the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as its presidential candidate.

In that election, Buhari defeated then-incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in a historic vote that marked the first time an opposition party peacefully unseated a sitting government in Nigeria.

The coalition that formed the APC brought together major parties including the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), united under a reform agenda and a change mantra.