The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has dismissed claims by the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, and his running mate, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, that President Bola Tinubu could be defeated in the 2027 general elections.
Musa expressed confidence that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would retain the presidency and also win the governorship and other elective positions in Kaduna State in the 2027 elections.
The minister spoke on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, hours after Obi and Kwankwaso told their supporters that they were prepared to resist any attempt to manipulate the 2027 polls.
Obi had warned that voters would not allow their votes to be subverted at polling units, while Kwankwaso argued that the APC could lose the presidential election despite controlling more than 30 states. He cited the defeat of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 as an example.
Responding to suggestions that voters in Kaduna could punish the APC and Tinubu over the administration’s performance, Musa described perceptions of growing rejection of the ruling party in the North as subjective.
“That’s a perception. It’s a perception, and I mean, everybody has his own perception to deal with. People will always have the good, the bad, and the ugly,” he said.
Asked whether the APC could lose Kaduna State in 2027, the minister expressed confidence in the party’s chances.
“I cannot say cannot lose. APC will win in Kaduna. That I know,” he said.
When asked whether he was referring specifically to the governorship election, Musa responded: “Definitely. Presidential, governorship, and all levels.”
Musa, who is from the North, also rejected suggestions that opposition to the APC and the Tinubu administration was growing across the region.
According to him, some individuals were exploiting public sentiment because of dissatisfaction with their personal circumstances.
“That’s why I said there are some people, because probably they are not where they think they are, the tendency is they want to whip up sentiments. APC is this, APC is that,” he said.
The defence minister also defended the policies and reforms of the Tinubu administration, arguing that the President had taken difficult decisions that would eventually produce positive results.
Musa urged Nigerians to remain patient with the government, saying the benefits of some of the reforms would become more visible with time.
