Opposition Poses No Threat Ahead of 2027 After APC’s By-election Sweep, Opines Arise TV Analyst
A political analyst on Arise Television has questioned the electoral strength of Nigeria’s major opposition parties following the outcome of the September 19 legislative by-elections.
The analyst, Sambo, who featured on Arise TV’s The Morning Show on Sunday, September 21, 2026, said the performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) raises concerns about the preparedness of opposition parties for the 2027 general elections.
In his words: _”I am beginning to wonder what the opposition parties are doing. If the APC could clear four out of five by-elections, I wonder where the ADC and others were. This begins to give me a different perspective ahead of the 2027 general elections. It means that these major opposition political parties are not a threat.”
His remarks were contained in a post on X by Senior Pastor Okezie James Atani on Sunday.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted five by-elections across four states on Saturday, September 19, 2026, comprising one federal constituency and four state constituencies.
According to official results declared by INEC:
In Gombe State, APC’s Kallamu Usman MaiJama’a won the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency with 41,121 votes, defeating Labour Party which scored 3,553 votes.
In Kano State, APC’s Husseini Datti won the Dawakin Kudu State Constituency with 22,890 votes.
In Delta State, APC’s Okolosi Ator secured the Udu State Constituency with 8,724 votes.
In Bauchi State, the results were split. APC’s Yakubu Ali won the Disina State Constituency with 5,846 votes, while the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) won Sakwa State Constituency in Zaki LGA with its candidate, Adamu Yakubu, polling 8,515 votes.
Reacting to the results, APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, congratulated the party’s candidates, describing the victories as a reflection of voter confidence in the party.
The by-elections are widely seen as a barometer for party strength ahead of the 2027 general elections, with analysts saying the poor showing of the opposition parties may force a realignment within the opposition bloc.
