Tinubu’s Victory Certain Regardless of INEC Leadership, Says APC’s Ajibola Basiru
The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would win re-election in 2027 regardless of who becomes the next Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Speaking on the party’s performance in the just-concluded by-elections across 12 states, Basiru maintained that Tinubu’s popularity, coupled with the strength of the APC, places the president in an unbeatable position ahead of the next general elections.
He argued that even if an opposition candidate’s father were to be appointed as INEC chairman, it would not alter the outcome of the polls in favour of the opposition.
According to him, the APC’s victories in the August 16 by-elections, where it clinched the majority of contested seats, demonstrated the ruling party’s wide acceptance among Nigerians.
He described the outcome as a reflection of the confidence citizens continue to repose in President Tinubu’s leadership.
Although there were complaints of delays in uploading results on the INEC Results Viewing (IReV) portal, Basiru insisted that the process was credible and that the results reaffirmed APC’s dominance nationwide.
His comments come at a time when the future of INEC leadership is becoming a subject of national debate. The current chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, is expected to complete his tenure in late 2025, sparking speculations about who may succeed him.
Opposition parties and civil society groups have consistently called on President Tinubu to ensure that a credible and impartial figure is appointed to head the commission, stressing that public confidence in the electoral process must be safeguarded.
Notably, Labour Party’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Datti Baba-Ahmed, recently warned against appointing individuals with alleged histories of election manipulation, cautioning that such moves could undermine democracy.
However, the presidency has dismissed rumours that Yakubu had been sacked earlier in the year, insisting he remains in office until his tenure officially ends.
Basiru’s declaration has stirred reactions across political circles. Supporters of the ruling party view his statement as an expression of APC’s strength and Tinubu’s enduring political influence, while critics see it as dismissive of the importance of institutional neutrality in elections.
Analysts have also noted that public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system remains fragile, and comments suggesting that election outcomes are already guaranteed could further weaken confidence in INEC.
As 2027 approaches, attention will increasingly turn to the appointment of a new electoral umpire and the reforms expected to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process.
With issues such as logistics, technology adoption, and result transmission still under scrutiny, the leadership transition at INEC will be closely watched by both political actors and citizens.
For the APC, however, Basiru’s remarks underline a deliberate show of confidence. By insisting that Tinubu’s re-election is inevitable regardless of who heads INEC, the party is setting the tone for its campaign narrative — one that projects the president as unbeatable and positions the APC as firmly in control of Nigeria’s political landscape.
