Farouk Aliyu: Opposition must rally behind one candidate to challenge APC in 2027 Election

Farouk Aliyu, a prominent figure in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has urged opposition parties to unite behind a single presidential candidate if they aim to challenge the APC in the upcoming 2027 elections. He referenced the successful strategy used by the APC in 2015 to defeat former President Goodluck Jonathan.

In a recent interview on ARISE News, Aliyu commented on the current divisions within opposition parties, advising them to set aside their differences and rally behind one candidate.

“If they really want to contest or, I mean, if they want to give us real opposition, they should forget about their differences,” Aliyu said. “I’m giving free advice now. Forget about differences. Let them rally around one person, all of them, and then beat us head-on.”

Reflecting on the APC’s 2015 victory, Aliyu explained that despite internal disagreements, party leaders rallied behind Muhammadu Buhari. “That’s exactly what we did when we defeated Jonathan. Not everybody wanted Buhari, but in the wisdom of the leaders, they said, let’s put Buhari forward,” Aliyu recalled.

According to Aliyu, if the opposition wants to be competitive in 2027, they need to adopt a similar approach. “So probably if they decide on Jonathan, Atiku, or anybody, if all of them come together and one person amongst them, then that’s when they can challenge us,” he said.

Aliyu dismissed claims that the APC was responsible for the internal struggles facing opposition parties. “What is the fault of APC? Nothing. It’s none of our business. If they cannot come together in the interest of this country, come together and oppose us, so that they can defeat us,” he stated.

He emphasized that the final decision rests with Nigerians, not the APC. “At the end of the day, Nigerians will decide whether it is Tinubu or anybody else. But nobody should blame us, the APC, for the misfortune of these other parties,” Aliyu concluded.