The All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed unwavering confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election prospects in 2027, asserting that the selection of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman will have no impact on the outcome of the election.
In an interview with The Sun, APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru made clear that the party will not interfere in the appointment process, likening attempts to influence the decision to a player choosing their own referee. He said,
“We are players and don’t care about which referee is brought to officiate the match.”
Basiru emphasised that civil society organisations and the National Assembly should take responsibility for nominating a new INEC chairman.
Basiru also urged the public to focus on the APC’s voter mobilisation efforts rather than speculating about the influence of election officials. He went further, suggesting that Tinubu would still emerge victorious even in extreme scenarios—for example, “even if the new INEC chairman is the father of another party’s presidential candidate.”
This statement follows confirmation that INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure is expected to expire this year, with presidential consultations reportedly underway to select his successor.
