President Bola Tinubu has criticised those planning a political coalition to stop his re-election bid in 2027, calling them “political internally displaced persons (IDPs).”
He made this statement on Wednesday while inaugurating projects in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State. Tinubu said the people behind the planned alliance were “misguided” and had started politics too early.
“Those who have triggered the early politics in the perdition of the coalition suddenly, don’t pay them any attention; they are the political IDPs. Don’t give them a home; the hope is here,” Tinubu said.
Top politicians like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and others are said to be part of the planned coalition.
Earlier in the week, El-Rufai said during an interview that internal polls showed Tinubu had no chance of winning the 2027 election. But Tinubu dismissed such claims, saying he would not remain silent while the opposition plotted against him.
He said, “I’m not geared for what they tried to pull on me—early political campaign. But who is the politician who will keep quiet when the gangsters are forming a coalition to unseat themselves?”
Despite economic challenges, Tinubu said his government had made progress. “We’ve cut the waste… the hope is here. From this moment on, you’ll have no regret,” he said.
The President was in Lafia to commission several projects completed by Governor Abdullahi Sule. These included a N16 billion flyover, a dualised Shendam Road, and a new state secretariat.
Tinubu praised the governor’s performance. “Sule is doing well because Bola Tinubu is doing well, too,” he said.
He also applauded Sule for using state resources wisely.
“I could see hard work coming from A.A. Sule, who is determined to use the resources available to him for the benefit, stability, and prosperity of Nasarawa State,” Tinubu added.
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Governor Sule revealed that the flyover and underpass were completed within one year without taking any loans.
He said, “Because of your reforms, that is why we have been able to do this in a state like Nasarawa.”
He also named the flyover the “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Interchange.”
During the visit, Tinubu went to the Emir of Lafia’s palace and later handed over 60 security vehicles, including armoured trucks and pickups, to law enforcement agencies.
The President was accompanied by several governors, top APC leaders, ministers, and lawmakers.
Meanwhile, Senate President Godswill Akpabio called on opposition parties to get their acts together. Speaking at another event in Abuja, Akpabio said Tinubu wanted to see a strong opposition.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is interested in seeing a vibrant opposition. It saddens him when he sees the way the opposition in Nigeria is in disarray” he said.
Akpabio also noted that the Labour Party is facing similar problems as the PDP. “People who are strong members of the Labour Party are angling to run Nigeria when they cannot put a small political party like that in order,” he said.
He confirmed that Senator Neda Imasuen had defected from the Labour Party to the APC that same day. “I’m not tired. I’m happy to receive them because our doors are open in the All Progressive Congress,” Akpabio added.