Former presidential aide Laolu Akande has stated that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is more structurally prepared for the 2027 general elections than the opposition coalition, which he described as disorganised and lacking clear direction.
Speaking on Thursday’s edition of Sunrise Daily, Akande said while the APC still faces internal challenges, it maintains stronger cohesion and strategic positioning compared to its rivals.
“I think the APC has better arrangements,” he noted, adding that the opposition has allowed a singular, anti-Tinubu narrative to dominate public discourse without offering viable policy alternatives.
Akande criticised the opposition’s perceived overreliance on recycled political figures and rhetoric. “We need new faces, but they still have old folks. The characters at the forefront are not the ones that can get the job done,” he said.
He praised activist and politician Omoyele Sowore for attempting to shift the narrative in Nigerian politics, describing his efforts as a step toward genuine reform.
Akande also addressed recent comments by Labour Party (LP) vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Datti Baba-Ahmed, who suggested Peter Obi could run in 2027 without him. He interpreted the remarks as indicative of deeper fractures within the LP.
“If the coalition is serious, Datti should be at the forefront to assure Nigerians of real change,” Akande said, while faulting the LP for lacking a clear manifesto and leadership identity.
On the internal dynamics of the APC, Akande welcomed the expected appointment of a new party chairman following a high-level meeting at the Presidential Villa. He said the development presents President Bola Tinubu with an opportunity to unify the ruling party ahead of 2027.
“There’s a visible onslaught toward the APC, but it’s easier to see where things are headed within the ruling party,” he said, describing opposition strategies as largely superficial.
Akande called for increased civic engagement and issue-based politics, urging political actors to prioritise poverty alleviation, anti-corruption reforms, and institutional strengthening.
