Political Tension Rises As APC Rejects Opposition Coalition, Ridicules Ibadan Summit

Reacting to the outcome of the Ibadan summit, which reportedly brought together representatives of about 10 political parties, Basiru said the gathering was insignificant and lacked credibility.

He characterised the meeting as mere “fanfare” by aggrieved politicians, insisting it could not be regarded as a formal political party engagement.

“The so-called Ibadan summit is a ruse. It was an assemblage of individuals, not ten political parties,” he said.

According to him, legitimate political party meetings must be backed by proper approval from their National Working Committee or National Executive Committee, warning that anything outside that framework is unofficial.

“For parties to meet, there must be prior authorisation from their NWC or NEC. Without that, it is simply a gathering of individuals,” he added.

Basiru also referenced ongoing leadership disputes within major opposition parties, including the PDP, questioning the authority of those who participated in the meeting.

“With leadership crises still unresolved in the PDP, and matters before the Supreme Court, on what basis are they meeting?” he asked.

He further argued that the coalition being proposed by opposition figures contradicts their earlier claims that the APC was pushing Nigeria toward a one-party state.

“If they now say ten parties met to oppose one party, it contradicts their earlier position. It only shows the political space is open, but they are unable to compete individually,” he said.

Basiru maintained that the coalition effort reflects weakness rather than strength, noting that Nigeria’s electoral system recognises political parties individually, not as merged alliances for elections.

‘No Threat To APC’ – Basiru

He also expressed confidence that the ruling party has nothing to fear from the opposition alliance, saying it would eventually collapse under internal disagreements.

“What I see are individuals driven by ambition. They will soon fall out among themselves,” he said.

Basiru further criticised comments attributed to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, describing references to “Operation Wet e” as inappropriate and potentially inciting.

“It is irresponsible for a sitting governor to make such remarks in today’s political climate,” he stated.

He urged opposition leaders to focus on building credible platforms and presenting strong candidates rather than relying on alliances he described as unstable and ineffective.