An acrimonious war of words has been sparked off between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).over what the latter labelled premature campaigns ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
JESNews correspondent reports that many groups, comprising some opposition governors, have endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term. At a summit held in the Federal Capital Territory four months back, APC governors, members of its National Working Committee and National Assembly adopted Tinubu as the party’s sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election
And at the 2025 Southern Summit of former legislators held weekend in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the esrtwhile-federal lawmakers and party leaders from all six geo-political zones endorsed the second term bid ot Tinubu.
The gale of endorsement compelled the PDP to issue a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, who alleged that the APC was desperately “shopping for endorsements.” He also alleged that the APC was getting panicky saying, “The president and APC are looking for endorsement.”
However in its reaction, the APC rubbished the claims of PDP, noting that the endorsements reflected broad acceptance of Tinubu’s leadership.
The spokesman of the Lagos State chapter of the APC, Seye Oladejo, in a statement, said the ruling party was amused by the reaction of PDP.
According to him, “The only people in panic mode are those with an empty shell called a party. Panic is when a party that once boasted of being Africa’s largest is now reduced to an empty kiosk, preparing for a convention as if preparing for World War III due to threats within,” he said.
“For APC, the journey continues. For PDP, the panic continues. APC builds, PDP bleeds,” he added.
He accused the PDP of struggling to keep its members intact, saying “If there is any party on a shopping spree, it is the PDP– desperately shopping for presidential candidates as a reflection of its lack of depth.”
According to Oladejo, the defections from the opposition party to the APC show where real support lies.
“Today, the only news the so-called largest political party in Africa looks forward to is the story of which of its governors has crossed over to the ruling party. That, unambiguously, is the true definition of panic.
“For avoidance of doubt, every endorsement of President Tinubu is another confirmation that 2027 is a settled matter,” Oladejo said.
He accused the PDP of wasting Nigeria’s wealth during its 16 years in power.
He also alleged that the PDP had been reduced to “shouting from the sidelines while Tinubu bears the burden of reforms.”
The PDP’s national publicity secretary, Ologunagba, in a statement, alleged that the APC was jittery about ongoing reforms in the PDP ahead of its November 15–16 national convention.
“If indeed the president is doing well and the APC is succeeding, you let your work speak for you. You don’t want to say come and endorse me. So, it is panic mode. The fact is that they are not doing well, they have failed, and they recognise that Nigeria truly knows that this APC has failed the country.
“But thank God the PDP is back, fully set, taking the November 15 and 16 national convention as its platform to launch itself back to Nigeria, and Nigerians are waiting eagerly, and that’s why each time we speak, they’re excited. They are anxious to get us back to where we are.
“So the panic mode of the APC government at present is a sign of a failed government. That you know that your policy is not working, and you say, let’s spin it, let’s gaslight it. This is not working because Nigerians have seen through it. So all the endorsements, all the shopping endorsements, let your work endorse you,” the PDP’s spokesman said
