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.

Galadima made the remark on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he discussed the opposition party’s preparations for the 2027 election and the prospects of its presidential ticket involving Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

When asked whether he expected the 2027 election to be free and fair, Galadima expressed doubts, alleging that political developments ahead of the poll had given the opposition cause for concern.

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

“Only God and Tinubu know what will happen to this election.”

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

The NDC chieftain, however, expressed confidence in the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket, saying the pair would win if the election were conducted freely, fairly and transparently.

“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 also disclosed that he is currently the chairman of 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.

According to him, the two politicians complement each other and are being presented as a single ticket for the country.

“It is a single ticket for Nigeria. We are not going to run a divided government, one belonging to Kwankwaso and one belonging to Peter. No, we are running a Nigerian government. That is why we call this ticket a healing ticket for Nigeria,” he said.

He identified national unity, public confidence in government and security as some of the issues the ticket would focus on if elected.

“We want to create public confidence in governance, in government, and in the people running our country,” Galadima said, adding that the proposed administration would pursue security measures that would allow Nigerians to conduct their daily activities without fear.

Galadima also questioned reported political engagements involving President Tinubu and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, saying the opposition did not know what such interactions entailed.

“If they are doing the kind of politics that we see in Nigeria, he may announce himself having met the INEC chairman [and] some prominent Nigerians in France, and we don’t know what they are doing,” he said.

He further criticised the reported gathering of academics who publicly expressed support for Tinubu and argued that those individuals should not subsequently be recruited to serve in the election.

“We are saying, as a political party, that none of those 600 professors … should be recruited to serve in the elections, because they have already taken sides by declaring their support for a candidate in this election,” he said.

He also maintained that the NDC’s strategy would not necessarily depend on producing a single opposition candidate against Tinubu, arguing that the opposition had moved beyond the stage where legally distinct parties could field one joint candidate.

The Nigerian Army has apprehended two soldiers over alleged ammunition racketeering, while troops recovered an AK-47 rifle during separate operations in Zamfara and Kaduna.

An operational report made available to journalists on Thursday said the soldiers were arrested by troops of Operation Fansan Yamma after allegedly attempting to transfer 60 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition to a suspected civilian buyer.

According to the report, one of the soldiers allegedly handed the ammunition to the other in the presence of the suspected buyer.

The report said the suspects, attached to the headquarters of Operation Fansan Yamma and 223 Battalion, were arrested at about 7:50 p.m. on Wednesday.

It added that troops recovered four mobile phones, two empty magazines, an ATM card, a motorcycle, a cutlass, keys, recharge cards and other items from the suspects.

According to the report, the suspects and recovered items were handed over to the 1 Brigade Provost Company for further investigation.

“Meanwhile, troops of 1 Division operating along the Abuja-Kaduna highway engaged suspected terrorists after detecting their movement with a long-range camera.

“The troops engaged the terrorists in bushes across the Abuja-Kaduna railway line, forcing them to withdraw.

“During a follow-up operation, troops recovered an AK-47 rifle, a magazine loaded with 13 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and other items.

“The recovered items included a military jungle hat, magazine carrier, civilian clothing, prayer mat and other sundry items,” it said.

The report also revealed that troops of Operation Delta Safe raided a suspected illegal bunkering dump at Otom Community Waterside, Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.

It said the troops recovered 40 drums containing about 12,000 litres of suspected illegally refined automotive gas oil, estimated at N14 million.

According to the report, troops also recovered a drum of engine oil and two tanks, which were handled in line with extant regulations.

In Plateau, the army said troops responded to an attack on commuters at Dindiyes village, Mangu Local Government Area, forcing the suspected attackers to withdraw.

It added that troops subsequently recovered the corpse of a civilian around the area, while efforts continued to apprehend the perpetrators. 

(NAN)