A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Tolu Bankole, has urged opposition politicians nursing presidential ambitions ahead of the 2027 general elections to shelve such plans
Bankole, a member of the National Working Committee of the ruling party, declared that any attempt to challenge President Bola Tinubu would be futile.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Bankole called on Nigerians to rally behind the President, who he described as a visionary leader transforming the country.
“Those considering presidential ambitions for 2027 should abandon such pursuits. Any attempt to challenge President Tinubu will amount to financial recklessness,” he said.
According to him, the President is positioned to “decisively defeat any opposition” owing to what he described as unprecedented achievements and growing public support.
Citing the 2023 presidential election results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, Bankole noted that Tinubu secured 8,794,726 votes to defeat his closest rivals — Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, who polled 6,984,520 votes, and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, who garnered 6,101,533 votes.
He said the President met the constitutional requirement of securing at least 25 per cent of the votes in two-thirds of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, describing the victory as hard-fought.
“Today, the landscape has shifted dramatically,” Bankole said, citing a September survey by NOIPolls, which he claimed showed the President’s approval rating had risen to 51 per cent — the highest since the beginning of the administration.
He added that this marked a significant improvement from earlier averages recorded during the first year in office.
Bankole highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, stating that over 440 road projects covering more than 2,700 kilometres were underway nationwide.
“Infrastructure development under President Tinubu has attracted over $50 billion in foreign direct investment and unlocked $8 billion in new oil and gas investments,” he said, adding that oil production had increased to 1.61 million barrels per day.
On revenue generation, he claimed aggregate government revenues had more than doubled, with the Nigeria Revenue Service generating ₦28.3 trillion in 2025.
The APC chieftain also referenced the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates programme, which he said aims to deliver 100,000 housing units in three years.
Quoting the President’s August 2024 nationwide address, Bankole said the housing initiative would “provide homes, create thousands of jobs, and stimulate economic growth.”
He further pointed to education reforms, noting that over ₦95.6 billion had been disbursed to 600,000 beneficiaries under the Student Loan Scheme, while ₦110 billion had been invested in upgrading medical education across 18 universities.
On the economy, he said GDP growth reached 4.23 per cent in the second quarter of 2025, describing it as the fastest in four years.
“The national minimum wage has been raised to ₦70,000 per month, and the Compressed Natural Gas initiative is promoting affordable and cleaner fuel alternatives,” he added.
Quoting Tinubu’s New Year 2026 message, Bankole said, “We will accelerate the implementation of the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, aiming to bring at least 10 million Nigerians into productive economic activity.”
Bankole dismissed criticism from opposition groups, including the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties and the African Democratic Congress, describing their allegations against the administration as baseless.
“The desperation of the opposition, comprising personalities without clear direction or genuine intentions for Nigeria, has been exposed,” he said.
He maintained that the APC would continue to defend good governance and the rule of law.
“With President Tinubu at the helm, Nigeria and Nigerians are safe, prosperous, and poised for greatness. He is indeed the father of a new Nigeria, where hope and possibilities abound,” Bankole said.
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