By joshua 
2027: THOSE ANGLING TO UPSTAGE PRESIDENT TINUBU ARE SWIMMING AGAINST THE TIDE
By Musa Bakare
As Nigeria eyes the 2027 election, talk of opposition coalitions and challengers is loud, but the truth is clear: anyone aiming to upstage President Bola Ahmed Tinubu faces a steep uphill battle.
Politics isn’t about wishful thinking or social media hype; it’s about power, timing, and strategy. Tinubu holds the ultimate political leverage, the presidency, with its visibility and policy shaping power. History shows Nigerian incumbents rarely lose unless there’s massive upheaval. Right now, none exists.
The opposition are divided, distrustful, and driven by personal ambition. Their so called coalitions are fragile, lacking unity and discipline. Nigerians have seen these fractured efforts before and they fail to topple a focused ruling party.
Tinubu’s political machine is formidable and deeply entrenched, built over decades across Nigeria’s diverse regions. You don’t break that with hashtags or last minute alliances.
On governance, Tinubu has tackled a troubled economy boldly, favoring responsibility over populism. His critics recycle old complaints without offering fresh visions, raising the question: if they failed before, why trust them now ?
In 2027, power boils down to structure versus sentiment and strategy versus improvisation. The scales lean heavily towards APC and President Tinubu.
This doesn’t mean Tinubu is beyond critique or opponents are irrelevant. It means change requires a united, credible, and disciplined opposition aligned with Nigerians’ needs and that doesn’t exist today.
Those trying to upstage Tinubu should heed the signs: Nigerian politics rewards preparation, patience, and deep roots not panic alliances.
As the election nears, one thing is certain: Tinubu isn’t just steady, he’s with the tide. And those swimming against it risk exhaustion long before the shore.
Musa Asiru Bakare, APC member and political analyst, Lokoja, Kogi State
January 9, 2026