Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress will retain power in the 2027 general election.
Musa also predicted that the APC would win the governorship and other elective positions in Kaduna State, dismissing suggestions that voters in the state could turn against the ruling party over the performance of the Tinubu administration.
The defence minister made the remarks on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, shortly after opposition figures Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso spoke about the prospects of defeating the APC in the 2027 elections.
Obi had told his supporters that Nigerians would resist any attempt to manipulate their votes, while Kwankwaso argued that controlling a large number of states would not automatically guarantee victory for the ruling party.
Kwankwaso cited the 2015 presidential election, when then-President Goodluck Jonathan lost his re-election bid despite the Peoples Democratic Party controlling a significant number of states at the time.
Responding to concerns that the APC could lose support in Kaduna and other parts of the North, Musa described such assessments as perceptions that could vary from one individual to another.
He said Nigerians would ultimately determine the outcome of the election through their votes.
Asked directly whether the APC could lose Kaduna State in 2027, Musa expressed confidence in the ruling party’s prospects.
“I cannot say cannot lose. APC will win in Kaduna. That I know,” he said.
The minister’s prediction comes amid growing political activity ahead of the 2027 elections, with opposition parties and political groups intensifying efforts to challenge the Tinubu administration.
Several opposition figures have been advocating stronger collaboration among parties, while discussions over a possible coalition and consensus presidential candidate continue.
The opposition has also continued to raise concerns about the performance of the federal government, particularly in areas such as the economy, insecurity and the cost of living.
However, Musa maintained that predictions of declining support for Tinubu and the APC remained matters of perception rather than established electoral outcomes.
His comments also come against the backdrop of growing political competition in Kaduna, a state considered strategically important in the presidential contest because of its large voting population and influence in northern politics.
While the 2027 election remains months away, political parties have already begun mobilising supporters and positioning their candidates across the country.
Musa’s confidence in an APC victory contrasts sharply with the position of opposition politicians who believe the ruling party can be defeated if voters unite behind an alternative candidate.
The final outcome, however, will depend on voter preferences, party organisation, candidate selection and the conduct of the election.
For now, the defence minister remains convinced that Tinubu will secure another term and that the APC will retain its grip on Kaduna State in 2027.
