Abuja, Nigeria
A political commentary by Ogbuefi Ndigbo has sparked renewed debate about the preparedness of Nigeria’s opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections, arguing that while opposition figures speak the language of resistance, their actions often reflect what he describes as “the politics of hesitation.”
The piece references political developments in Abuja over the weekend, drawing parallels with events in Rivers State during the 2023 election cycle. At the center of the analysis is the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, whose political style is described as assertive, visible, and tactically aggressive.
According to the commentary, whether or not one agrees with Wike’s methods, his approach demonstrates what the author calls “strategic clarity,” particularly in understanding that elections in Nigeria are won through organization, presence, and psychological dominance—not moral positioning alone.
In contrast, the article critiques leading opposition figures including Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, and Rotimi Amaechi, alleging that their response to a pre-election curfew in Abuja reflected compliance rather than calculated resistance.
Describing the decision to comply with the curfew as a “miscalculation,” the author argues that while such restraint may appear responsible, politics operates heavily in the realm of perception and mobilization. The piece suggests that failure to challenge the restriction politically and legally may have contributed to reduced turnout and dampened voter morale.
The commentary also raises questions about election-day optics, noting reports that Wike moved across polling units in Abuja, projecting what the author describes as visibility and control. The absence of similarly coordinated and visible opposition leadership presence, it argues, created a perception gap that may have influenced voter psychology.
Drawing comparisons to the 2015 general elections, when the then-opposition All Progressives Congress successfully unseated the incumbent Peoples Democratic Party, the article emphasizes the importance of coalition-building, narrative control, and projecting inevitability.
The piece further suggests that opposition platforms such as the African Democratic Congress must shift from rhetorical resistance to structured, systems-driven strategy if they hope to mount a credible challenge in 2027.
Among the recommendations outlined are the establishment of rapid-response legal teams to challenge restrictive directives in real time, structured nationwide election-day leadership deployment, independent parallel vote tabulation mechanisms, enhanced monitoring of collation centers and digital processes linked to INEC infrastructure, and comprehensive training of grassroots agents—particularly at local government collation levels.
The commentary concludes that democratic competition requires organization, discipline, and courage, arguing that outrage after elections cannot substitute for preparation before them.
With 2027 approaching, the author contends that the central question is not whether the ruling party will fight to retain power, but whether the opposition is prepared to contest strategically—within the law, yet without timidity.
