APC CLAIMS TINUBU HAS STRONGER RECORD THAN ATIKU, OBI, DUKE AND MAKINDE AHEAD OF 2027

By NaijaParrot October 16, 2026 

 ABUJA, NIGERIA — The All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that opposition figures Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Donald Duke and Seyi Makinde cannot match President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisting that the incumbent has a stronger record in infrastructure development and institution-building ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The party’s National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, made the declaration on Thursday while receiving members of the Forum of APC House of Representatives Aspirants, led by Hon. Danjuma Mohammed, at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja. Yilwatda maintained that the APC believed Tinubu’s performance in office placed him ahead of the opposition candidates, challenging rival parties to compare their records with those of the current administration. “No political party, as it stands today, has a more credible candidate than President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the APC chairman said, insisting that the party had evidence to support its position.

The APC chairman cited ongoing and completed infrastructure projects as part of his argument for Tinubu’s re-election. He mentioned the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano road project, the Trans-Saharan Superhighway and the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, arguing that the scale of infrastructure development under the current administration compared favourably with previous governments. Yilwatda also highlighted the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano gas pipeline, saying it could support fertiliser production, compressed natural gas, domestic gas supply and electricity generation. He challenged opposition figures to identify comparable projects from their periods in public office, presenting infrastructure development as a key measure by which Nigerians should assess the competing political camps. However, the chairman’s assessment represents the APC’s political position. The full costs, completion status and benefits of individual projects remain important considerations for an independent assessment of the administration’s performance.  

The APC chairman also criticised the record of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, during which Atiku served as vice-president. Yilwatda alleged that more than ₦300 billion allocated to road projects during that period did not produce a visible network of roads commensurate with the amount spent. He challenged critics to identify a 500-kilometre stretch of road constructed with the funds, contrasting the allegation with projects being executed under Tinubu. The claim was part of the APC chairman’s argument that the ruling party had a stronger infrastructure record than its opponents. It was not independently established in the remarks reported.  

Yilwatda also defended the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which provides financial assistance to eligible students pursuing higher education. He criticised Atiku over his reported position on the student loan scheme, arguing that financial support for students could help prevent school dropouts caused by an inability to pay fees and living expenses. The APC chairman illustrated his argument with an account of a student who allegedly saved part of a ₦20,000 monthly upkeep allowance to purchase a second-hand refrigerator and start selling iced fish to fellow students. He further questioned the position of critics who, according to him, challenged the value of the government’s student support while charging substantial tuition fees at their own universities. The exchange highlights the emerging debate over education financing, government spending and the effectiveness of policies intended to improve access to higher education. 

 The opposition politicians named by Yilwatda are associated with different political parties. Atiku Abubakar is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peter Obi represents the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Donald Duke is associated with the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), while Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde is the candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), according to the reported candidate list. Their separate candidacies come amid discussions among opposition parties about cooperation and the possibility of developing a coordinated strategy ahead of the election. The APC, meanwhile, is defending Tinubu’s record and seeking to present its infrastructure and economic policies as reasons for voters to support another term. As the election approaches, claims about candidates’ records are likely to remain central to political campaigns. Voters will have to consider the parties’ competing arguments alongside verifiable evidence about infrastructure delivery, economic conditions, education policies, security and other issues affecting daily life. 

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