2027: Only God and Tinubu Know What Will Happen, Says Buba Galadima

A chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Buba Galadima, has said only God and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu know what will happen in the 2027 presidential election, expressing doubts about whether the poll will be free and fair.

Galadima made the remarks on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he discussed the NDC’s preparations for the election and the prospects of its proposed presidential ticket involving Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

When asked whether he expected the election to be free and fair, Galadima questioned the political environment ahead of the poll and accused some political actors of engaging in misconduct.

“If you are dealing with criminals and fraudsters like these ones we have, you can’t be sure of anything,” he said.

He also alleged that opposition politicians and supporters had faced coordinated attacks, citing incidents involving opposition supporters in Enugu, Peter Obi in Benue State and an ADC governorship candidate in Kaduna.

Despite his concerns, Galadima expressed confidence in the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket, saying the pair would win if the election were conducted freely, fairly and transparently. He alleged that the use of government machinery could undermine such an outcome.

“Obi and Kwankwaso will win this election if it is free, fair and transparent, unless somebody decides to use the machinery of government and take it away from them,” he said.

Galadima disclosed that he currently chairs the coordinating strategic committee for the presidential candidate and his running mate. He said the committee was working to harmonise the political blueprints of Obi and Kwankwaso, who contested the 2023 presidential election on different platforms.

Describing the proposed ticket as a unifying platform, Galadima said the pair would seek to run a single government focused on national unity, public confidence in governance and security. He said the proposed administration would aim to enable Nigerians to go about their daily activities without fear.

The NDC chieftain also questioned reported political engagements involving Tinubu and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying the opposition was uncertain about the nature of such meetings. He further argued that academics who had publicly declared support for Tinubu should not be recruited to serve in the 2027 elections, citing concerns about perceived political neutrality.

Galadima also maintained that the opposition’s strategy would not necessarily depend on producing a single candidate against Tinubu, arguing that legally distinct political parties could not simply field one joint presidential candidate.