“You Cannot Stop a Moving Train,” Declares APC Chieftain, Predicts Tinubu’s 2027 Return
Insists Party’s Achievements Will Secure Victory; Clears IPAC of Blaming for Internal Party Crises
A senior official of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is unstoppable and will secure a second term in 2027, citing ongoing infrastructural projects and economic policies as the foundation for his re-election.
Zainab Abubakar Ibrahim, the APC Deputy Women Leader who also serves as the Deputy National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), made the assertion in an exclusive interview in Abuja on Monday.
Ibrahim positioned the Tinubu administration’s record—highlighting salary payments, project execution, and nationwide infrastructure improvements—as the decisive factor for voters in the next electoral cycle.
“As an IPAC executive, I cannot publicly disclose strategies, but I assure you that President Tinubu will return in 2027,” she stated. “Salaries are being paid, projects are executed, and infrastructure is improving nationwide. These are the modest achievements that will make Nigerians return him in 2027.”
IPAC Not a Source of Party Crises
Beyond the political forecast, Ibrahim addressed criticisms aimed at IPAC, the umbrella body for political parties in Nigeria. She firmly rejected allegations that the council fuels internal crises within member parties.
“I do not think IPAC is responsible for the internal problems of any political party. That is their internal affair,” she clarified.
She explained that IPAC’s mandate is clearly defined and primarily involves interaction with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). “Regarding factions, IPAC relates strictly with INEC. We work with the names of party leaders on INEC’s portal. We do not concern ourselves with factional disputes,” she added.
APC: “A Moving Train”
Defending the APC’s expansive influence, Ibrahim described the party as a formidable national entity whose appeal naturally draws members from other parties.
“APC is a formidable national party with representation across all zones. That attraction draws people in. You cannot stop a moving train,” she said, dismissing notions that the party orchestrates interference in other political groups. “Other parties’ challenges are their responsibility.”
On internal party democracy, the APC chieftain affirmed that the party adheres to constitutional provisions, including the use of consensus candidacy where applicable.
“The first form of election recognized by the Constitution is consensus. Where candidates agree to adopt a consensus candidate, the party must respect it,” she noted.
She acknowledged that political contests inevitably produce disappointed individuals but maintained that this should not be mistaken for a lack of democratic process. “APC remains a party that leads in internal democracy,” she asserted.
Advocacy for Women’s Special Seats
Shifting focus to gender representation, Ibrahim, a former Executive Director of Women Affairs in IPAC, renewed a push for constitutional amendments to create special legislative seats for women.
She pointed to the acute under-representation of women in the National Assembly: only four out of 109 Senators and 17 out of 360 House of Representatives members.
“Politics is a game of numbers. Without representation, voices are not heard,” she argued, highlighting structural barriers in finance, education, and society that disadvantage women.
“The advocacy for special seats is about equity, not superiority,” she explained. “The proposal is for one Senate seat and one House of Representatives seat per state reserved exclusively for women to contest among themselves.”
Ibrahim concluded with an appeal to federal lawmakers, urging them to support the initiative for the sake of equity and national development.
