A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Farouk Aliyu, has said that the coalition of opposition politicians adopting the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their platform does not pose a threat to the ruling party’s chances in the 2027 general elections.

Speaking during an interview on The Morning Show on Arise News, Aliyu dismissed suggestions that the APC is jittery or panicking over the emergence of the coalition, stating that many of its members are former allies who are aggrieved over personal issues rather than ideological differences.

“They are not a threat to us. Certainly not,” he said. “Most of them were part of us. They were part of the same team that came together to dethrone the PDP when Jonathan was president. Now it’s just a matter of personal fulfillment. They’re not in government, so they feel the need to come together.”

Aliyu argued that the situation in 2024 differs significantly from the pre-2015 political landscape when a strong opposition coalition helped bring down the then-ruling PDP. According to him, the current coalition lacks a powerful political figure like former President Muhammadu Buhari, who helped galvanize support in 2014.

“There’s a lot of difference between 2014 and now. Back then, there was someone like Buhari. These people don’t have a Buhari,” he said.

Responding to comments reportedly made by the presidency that described the opposition as drawing Nigeria backwards, Aliyu distanced himself from those views but maintained that the coalition does not present a credible alternative. “I don’t speak for the presidency, and I don’t agree with that particular statement. But they are not a threat to us,” he said.

He also addressed internal dynamics within the APC, particularly concerns about discontent in the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) wing, which Buhari once represented. Aliyu insisted that the CPC bloc remains loyal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. “Absolutely, we are perfectly okay with Tinubu. We will be with him and do everything to support him,” he said.

Aliyu called on political leaders and elites to focus on national unity rather than inflaming ethnic or religious divisions. “Why do we have to keep talking about North and South, Muslim or Christian? When Jonathan was in government, were Christians better off? When Buhari was in government, were Muslims better off?” he asked.

He emphasized that Nigeria’s challenges, such as hunger and poverty, cut across all demographics, urging politicians to prioritize the common good over personal grievances or identity politics.