As Nigeria edges closer to the 2027 general elections, deepening divisions within opposition parties are raising concerns that President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may secure a second term with little resistance.
With less than a year to the polls, opposition parties remain bogged down by leadership disputes, court cases and organisational paralysis, while the APC has begun early preparations for the next electoral cycle.
The ruling party last week became the first to unveil its 2027 election timetable, scheduling its national convention for March 25–28, 2026. Party officials say the early planning is aimed at consolidating unity and giving aspirants sufficient time to prepare.
In contrast, the Labour Party (LP) is still grappling with a protracted leadership crisis. Although the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently recognised Senator Esther Nenadi-Usman as acting national chairman based on a court order, loyalists of the Julius Abure faction insist the dispute remains unresolved.
The lingering uncertainty has slowed mobilisation efforts and weakened the party’s ability to rebuild momentum following its strong performance in the 2023 presidential election.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing even deeper turmoil, with multiple leadership disputes currently before the Court of Appeal. Rival factions continue to claim key positions, paralysing party activities and stalling congresses across several states.
The party’s influence has further declined following defections, reducing its number of governors from 13 after the 2023 elections to four, raising fears about its capacity to meet statutory deadlines ahead of 2027.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), now the main platform for an emerging opposition coalition, is also struggling with internal divisions. Tensions between supporters of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and those backing former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi have complicated efforts to project unity.
Analysts say ongoing defections to the APC, driven by uncertainty over credible primaries and access to resources, have further weakened opposition structures nationwide.
While INEC has urged patience and dismissed unofficial election timelines, political observers warn that unless opposition parties resolve their internal crises quickly, the APC may enter the 2027 elections with a decisive advantage.
