“Tinubu Won’t Fall Like Jonathan”– APC Vows Not to Let Insecurity Cost 2027 Election

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that President Bola Tinubu will not allow the nation’s rising insecurity to cost him re-election in 2027, as it did to former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

Amid mounting concern over a spike in violent attacks across the country, many Nigerians are drawing parallels with the security failures that plagued Jonathan’s tenure and ultimately contributed to his historic defeat. But the APC insists history will not repeat itself.

Speaking to THISDAY, APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Bala Ibrahim, dismissed claims that the worsening insecurity is a politically-driven strategy to sabotage Tinubu’s administration. He maintained that the government is alert and determined to confront the issue head-on.

“If insecurity helped bring down Jonathan’s government, Tinubu is not going to make the same mistake,” Ibrahim said. “The APC knows the dangers and won’t sit idly while threats multiply.”

He praised the president’s decision to entrust national security matters to Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, describing him as a strategic figure who’s been actively visiting conflict hotspots to revive counterinsurgency efforts.

One of the notable interventions, according to Ibrahim, was President Tinubu’s directive for Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to relocate to the North-West — a region grappling with banditry. The move, he said, has already produced military successes in the area.

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“The president is not waiting to be caught off guard. He’s putting strategies in place, and we’re seeing improvements — roads once considered deadly, like Abuja to Sokoto and Abuja to Maiduguri, are now safer,” he said. “There are still flashpoints, but that’s how you know victory is near — the resistance intensifies just before it crumbles.”

Ibrahim also pointed out a lack of regional support as one of the reasons insecurity has persisted. He blamed strained diplomatic ties with francophone neighbours, particularly Niger Republic, for disrupting regional anti-terrorism collaborations under the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF).

“Since the coup in Niger, Nigeria has been fighting this war almost alone. Still, we’ve managed to push back thanks to strong leadership and military coordination,” he said.

He argued that the current administration’s security initiatives have led to a notable drop in large-scale attacks in areas like Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi. “The attackers are under pressure, and the results are beginning to show,” he added.

However, nationwide anxiety remains high. Groups like Afenifere, a prominent Yoruba socio-political body, have urged the federal government to work more closely with state governors and evolve new strategies to combat the crisis.

At the same time, senators from the 19 northern states have spoken out strongly against the increasing attacks in Plateau and Benue, pledging to resist any effort to normalize such violence.

Former DSS Director, Mike Ejiofor, also weighed in, attributing the persistent insecurity to a mix of poor intelligence gathering, insufficient personnel, and a lack of modern technology in national defense.

Despite the criticisms, the APC remains confident that Tinubu is taking the right steps — not just to secure the country, but also to secure his mandate in the next election.