According to leading political analyst Jide Ojo, the current state of the Nigerian opposition is too disorganised to pose a serious threat to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). However, Ojo does see one new political platform that has the potential to make an impression in the general elections of 2027.…....
Several parties that were supposed to offer alternatives to the ruling party in Nigeria have been severely undermined by internal crises, leadership conflicts, and factional struggles, according to Ojo’s assessment of the country’s opposition politics. He cautioned that the opposition would have trouble maintaining their relevance in the next election cycle unless these concerns are resolved immediately.
The analyst made the following claim in a video that went live on Monday, May 25, 2026, on Channels Television’s official YouTube channel: “NDC is about the only party that can pose serious threat to the APC in 2027.” He went on to explain that the majority of political parties are fighting internal strife and lack of unity at the moment.
According to him, various factions within the opposition have established rival leadership structures in an effort to assert their claim to party authority, which has been prompted by continuous conflicts. Their capacity to operate efficiently as a cohesive political entity has been further compromised, he added, by the protracted legal battles and administrative complexity caused by this predicament.
Having trouble mobilising people, constructing nationwide infrastructure, or presenting credible candidates who can compete with a well-organised ruling party are all symptoms of an internal legitimacy crisis, according to Ojo. He claims that in addition to popularity, organisational strength, financial capability, and continuous leadership direction are necessary for election victory in Nigeria.
He argued that the ruling APC benefits from a more stable political climate since the opposition parties are not united, and that the APC is better organised and more coordinated than the opposition. But he did point out that something seems to have changed in the political landscape with the rise of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Ojo said that the NDC has demonstrated unity that might make it a formidable opposition force if it keeps going in the same direction, while still recognising that the party is still building its institutions. He stressed that expanding its grassroots presence and effectively managing internal organization would determine its capacity to garner attention and support in the run-up to the elections.
The analyst went on to say that the weakening of accountability and the efficiency of electoral competition caused by political fragmentation is one of the fundamental problems with Nigeria’s democratic process. He made the observation that democracies function best when there is a robust, well-organised, and ideologically motivated opposition that can keep the ruling party in check.
Warning that their electoral disadvantages would only worsen if they did not prioritise internal reconciliation and organisational discipline, Ojo encouraged opposition leaders to do just that. Rather than focusing on engaging voters and articulating policies, he argued, politicians should avoid legal battles and factional disagreements.
No amount of popular unhappiness or economic difficulties, he stressed, will give the opposition parties a fighting chance in 2027 until they figure out how to end internal strife and strengthen institutions.
