APC chieftain Gabriel Oluohu says Tinubu poised to win Cross River in 2027, cites governor’s record and waning opposition

Hon. Gabriel Bravo Oluohu, a senior APC figure in Cross River State, told journalists in Abuja that President Bola Tinubu is expected to win the state’s 2027 presidential vote. Oluohu, who previously served as Supervisory Councillor for Finance, Budget and Investment in the Abuja Municipal Area Council, said Tinubu’s victory would be evident before 1 p.m. on election day. He linked the anticipated outcome to the perceived popularity of Governor Bassey Otu, whose administration he described as delivering visible infrastructure, improved security, electricity projects and renewed federal engagement.

Oluohu also argued that the political momentum behind opposition parties, including the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Labour Party, has faded in Cross River. He claimed that former supporters of NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi, including some legislators, have defected to the APC, and that a supposed opposition coalition is largely a media‑driven narrative rather than an organised bloc.

Background

The statements come ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, where the APC seeks to retain the presidency after Bola Tinubu’s 2023 victory. In Cross River, the APC has been in power since the 2023 governorship election, with Governor Bassey Otu assuming office in May 2023. Oluohu recalled that in the previous election cycle the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held three senators, two former governors and five House members, yet still failed to unseat the APC at the state level. He suggested that the opposition now lacks comparable political infrastructure, noting the absence of sitting senators or former governors from the PDP and other parties in the state.

Oluohu’s statements align with previous comments from that same day, during which he characterized any electoral win by a party other than the APC in Cross River as a near-impossible feat, comparing it to attempting to ascend to the heavens using a wooden ladder. Additionally, employing figurative speech, he compared rival politicians to butterflies erroneously believing themselves to be birds, while cautioning that discussions regarding a coalition are merely a strategy to generate buzz prior to anticipated 2027 appointments.

Why it matters

If Oluohu’s assessment holds, the APC could consolidate its hold on a state that has historically been a competitive arena for Nigeria’s two main parties. The governor’s reported achievements—such as restoring Cross River’s oil‑producing status, securing presidential approval for a deep‑sea port, and reviving the state’s littoral designation—are presented as tangible benefits that may sway voters toward the ruling party. The claim that Peter Obi’s influence has waned could signal a shift in the electorate’s alignment away from the Labour Party, which performed strongly in the 2023 presidential election nationwide.

The APC’s confidence may affect campaign strategies, resource allocation and coalition‑building efforts by opposition parties. A perceived lack of influential opposition figures could discourage investment in grassroots mobilisation, while the APC may focus on highlighting Governor Otu’s record to cement voter loyalty.

What happens next

Oluohu indicated that the APC expects to see Tinubu’s electoral lead materialise before the midday count on election day, though no specific date beyond the 2027 election timetable was provided. He also suggested that the opposition’s attempts to form a coalition remain unsubstantiated, implying that any such moves are unlikely to alter the projected outcome. The election commission’s official results, expected after the vote, will ultimately confirm whether the APC’s forecast aligns with the actual vote count.