Senator Shehu Sani, a prominent member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has predicted a decisive victory for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election if opposition parties fail to unite in a coalition.

Sani, who previously represented Kaduna Central in the Senate, made the statement on Thursday in Abuja, highlighting the ongoing divisions within opposition ranks, particularly among the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

Without a united front, Sani argued, the opposition has little chance of unseating Tinubu. He emphasized, “There is no way you can evict a ruling party without a coalition. The opposition must sacrifice their narrow political interests for the common good of democracy.”

Sani also pointed to the lack of coalition-building efforts, noting that the SDP, PDP, and LP have shown little interest in coming together. He warned that this disunity would lead to an overwhelming victory for the APC in 2027. “If the opposition parties refuse to come together and form an alliance, it is a done deal for us (APC),” he said.

The senator further discussed the lack of ideological foundations in Nigerian political parties, noting that defections often stem from internal crises rather than ideological shifts. “Parties are simply vehicles for people to realize their political ambitions. If a party is shut down against you, there’s no way you can continue to function in that party,” he explained.

Sani also forecasted more defections to the APC, particularly due to ongoing leadership struggles within the PDP. He highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the re-election prospects of first-time governors and senators, stating that many defections are driven by “push factors” rather than “pull factors,” as opposition members are pushed out due to internal crises.