Tanko Yakasai says Opposition Coalition Against Tinubu in 2027 Will Collapse

As the political landscape begins to shape up ahead of the 2027 general elections, Dr. Umar Tanko Yakasai, Director-General of the Tinubu Support Group (TSG), has dismissed the prospect of an effective opposition alliance. He insists that attempts by opposition leaders to unseat President Bola Tinubu through a coalition will ultimately collapse under the weight of conflicting interests and the baggage of their past failures.

Opposition Alliance Doomed to Fail — Tanko Yakasai

Speaking with journalists in Abuja over the weekend, Dr. Tanko Yakasai said there is no cause for alarm over the much-discussed coalition being championed by opposition leaders. He described the effort as a reactionary move by political actors who failed Nigerians in the past and are now desperate to regain power.

“In Nigeria, we have seen that after every election, the losers tend to cry the loudest even when they performed abysmally when given the opportunity to serve the people,” Yakasai stated. “The APC has come to clean up the mess left by 16 years of misgovernance by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). These are the same people trying to regroup.”

He pointed out that Nigerians remain skeptical about the intentions of the opposition leaders forming the coalition, as their antecedents do not inspire trust. “We know their true colours. They are only united by their ambition to become President. But once they come together, their differing interests will tear them apart. That is who they are.”

Defections, Democratic Freedom and the Myth of One-Party State

Tanko Yakasai also dismissed fears that Nigeria is gradually becoming a one-party state, following the wave of defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). According to him, political migration is part of democratic culture, and defections are happening across party lines.

“There’s no need for panic over the defections,” he said. “While people are joining the APC, others are also leaving for the opposition. That’s democracy. You cannot compel anyone to stay in a political party they no longer believe in.”

He emphasized that the APC remains open and inclusive but warned against underestimating the reasons why many politicians are aligning with Tinubu. “People are not just joining the APC for the sake of it. They believe in the leadership of President Tinubu and the reforms he has initiated. That should tell you something about where the country is headed.”

Tinubu Is Clearing the Mess Left Behind

Highlighting the alleged failures of past administrations, Tanko Yakasai accused the opposition of looting and mismanaging the country during their time in power. He cited cases such as the missing $16 billion earmarked for power projects and the Halliburton scandal as examples of deep-rooted corruption that the Tinubu administration is now working to correct.

“The opposition governed Nigeria for over a decade and left the country in ruins,” he said. “We all know what happened to our economy, our institutions, and our public infrastructure. Now, Tinubu is picking up the pieces. Instead of acknowledging that, they want to come back and do more damage.”

He added that many opposition leaders who held key positions in government from 1999 onwards are now seeking power again under the guise of forming a coalition, despite having lost the people’s trust. “Nigerians will not be deceived again,” he said emphatically.

Tinubu’s Key Economic Reforms: Subsidy and Forex Markets

Dr. Tanko Yakasai also spoke about what he described as the major early achievements of the Tinubu administration, particularly in the areas of fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange reform. He praised the President’s bold steps, saying they were long overdue and necessary for national survival.

“The first major achievement was the removal of the unsustainable fuel subsidy. That subsidy became a monster that was consuming billions of Naira, enriching a few individuals, and depriving the country of funds for development,” he said.

“The second was the reform of the forex market. Before Tinubu took office, connected individuals were exploiting the system — collecting dollars from the Central Bank and reselling at black market rates. That was a massive scam. Tinubu ended it and has brought sanity into the system.”

A Call for Patience and Support as Tinubu Delivers

Looking ahead, Tanko Yakasai urged Nigerians to remain patient and steadfast in supporting President Tinubu, assuring them that the ongoing reforms will yield substantial benefits in the remaining years of his first term. He noted that sectors such as transportation, education, healthcare, and security would soon see noticeable improvements.

“You can’t start reforms and abandon them midway. These things take time. Nigerians should give President Tinubu the space and time to deliver,” Tanko Yakasai appealed.

He further stated that even the presidential candidates of opposition parties had planned to remove the petrol subsidy but lacked the capacity to manage the fallout. “President Tinubu took that bold step and is handling the consequences professionally. We are confident that if given a second term, he will consolidate these gains and transform Nigeria,” he concluded.