An All Progressives Congress (APC) spokesperson, Hassan, has claimed that President Bola Tinubu won the 2023 presidential election largely on his own merit, alleging that former President Muhammadu Buhari did not provide full support during the campaign.
The claim, made during a broadcast on Channels Television, suggests a shift in the political alliance that initially propelled the ruling party to power. While the APC has historically maintained a unified stance, Hassan’s comments point to underlying friction between the current presidency and the outgoing administration’s camp.
According to the spokesperson, the level of political backing experienced by Tinubu in 2023 differed significantly from the support provided to Buhari in 2015. Hassan noted that while Tinubu played a foundational role in Buhari’s emergence as president, the reciprocal relationship was not fully realised during the most recent electoral cycle.
In 2015, Tinubu was a central figure in the coalition that brought the APC to power. He was instrumental in mobilising support across various geopolitical zones and coordinating the political machinery that secured Muhammadu Buhari’s victory. That alliance was seen as a crucial turning point in Nigerian politics, marking the first time an opposition party successfully unseated an incumbent administration.
However, the political relationship between the two leaders reportedly became strained during the final months of the Buhari administration. This period of tension preceded the high-stakes 2023 general elections, a time when internal party dynamics were under intense scrutiny.
Political dynamics within the APC
The remarks by Hassan raise questions regarding the internal cohesion of the APC and the distribution of influence within the party. The 2015 victory was built on a merger of several political entities, with Tinubu’s influence in the Southwest being a primary driver of the campaign’s success. The alleged lack of comparable support for Tinubu in 2023 suggests a potential breakdown in the traditional patterns of political reciprocity within the ruling party.
Analysts suggest that such public statements, even from party officials, can impact the perception of party unity. The supporters of the former president and the current administration often represent different power blocs within the APC, and any acknowledgement of political distance can exacerbate existing factionalism.
As of now, the office of former President Muhammadu Buhari has not issued a response to the claims made by the APC spokesperson. The party leadership has also yet to clarify whether Hassan’s comments represent an official party position or an individual assessment of the political landscape during the 2023 election.
The fallout from these claims remains an unresolved issue within the party, particularly as the administration continues to navigate economic and political challenges.
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