The All Progressives Congress (APC) has challenged the attempts by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso to portray themselves as alternatives to Nigeria’s political establishment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said the political records of the three opposition figures made it difficult for them to present themselves as outsiders to the country’s political system.
Morka spoke on Tuesday during an interview on TVC’s Beyond The Headlines, amid growing realignment and coalition-building among opposition politicians ahead of the 2027 elections.
He particularly criticised Kwankwaso’s description of himself and Obi as representing a “new direction” for Nigeria, questioning how the former Kano governor could make such a claim after decades of active participation in Nigerian politics.
According to Morka, Kwankwaso’s extensive experience in public office places him firmly within the political establishment he now seeks to distance himself from.
The APC spokesman also grouped Atiku, Obi and Kwankwaso among politicians he accused of relying on political rhetoric to gain public support ahead of the next presidential election.
He argued that the country’s current economic and governance challenges did not originate from the administration of President Bola Tinubu alone, but had accumulated over several administrations.
Morka said both military and civilian governments had contributed to Nigeria’s longstanding challenges, adding that Nigerians were familiar with the records of politicians who had previously occupied positions of authority.
His comments came amid intensified opposition efforts to challenge the APC ahead of the 2027 elections, with Atiku, Obi and Kwankwaso among prominent political figures seeking to shape an alternative political platform.
The APC spokesman also defended the Tinubu administration’s economic record, insisting that the President had achieved more during his first term than any other democratically elected Nigerian president.
READ ALSO:Rising borrowing: FG raises N7.62trn From FGN bonds in 8 months
He said Tinubu inherited a severely weakened economy and had embarked on reforms aimed at addressing longstanding structural problems.
Morka attributed much of the economic difficulties inherited by the Tinubu administration to what he described as policy failures under successive governments, particularly during the 16-year rule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He also described former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration as a “stopgap” government, arguing that it prevented further deterioration of the country’s economic situation before Tinubu assumed office.
According to him, the impact of Tinubu’s reforms was gradually becoming evident, despite the hardship associated with the adjustment process.
Morka maintained that the 2027 election should therefore be judged not only on political rhetoric but also on the records and previous performance of the major contenders and their parties.
