The National Director of Media Monitoring and Rapid Response of the City Boys Movement, Bashir Ahmad, has rejected the characterisation of the 2027 presidential election as a contest between “oppressors” and “the oppressed,” following criticism of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council by the opposition Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Ahmad, a former presidential aide, argued that while Nigerians have every right to scrutinise governments and demand better governance, reducing the 2027 election to labels of oppression would not promote a serious debate about the country’s future.
In a post on his verified X handle late Sunday, Ahmad said Nigerians should assess the APC campaign council based on the policies, programmes, records and vision it presents to voters rather than judging it solely by the political identities of its members.
He maintained that the 2027 election should be determined by competing ideas, competence, performance and the ability of political parties to offer credible solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.
“I respectfully disagree with this characterisation of the APC Presidential Campaign Council,” Ahmad said.
According to him, Nigerian voters are sufficiently informed to examine the performance of the current administration, compare it with alternatives offered by opposition parties and independently determine who deserves their support.
“Nigerians are not passive victims waiting for political actors to tell them what their choices are,” he said.
“Nigerians are intelligent citizens capable of examining the records of governments, comparing alternatives and deciding for themselves what direction they want the country to take.”
Ahmad Defends Yari
Ahmad also defended Abdul’aziz Yari, who was recently appointed Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
His comments followed Kwankwaso’s criticism of the composition of the campaign council and his appeal to Yari to reconsider accepting the position.
Kwankwaso had questioned the decision of the former Zamfara State governor and senior APC politician to lead the campaign organisation, urging him to consider the implications of becoming part of the structure seeking to return Tinubu to office.
Ahmad, however, argued that Yari is an experienced politician capable of making his own decisions.
He said Yari’s political experience should be considered an asset rather than automatically interpreted as evidence that he bears responsibility for every problem confronting the country.
Kwankwaso’s Position
Kwankwaso had earlier presented the 2027 presidential election as an opportunity for Nigerians to decide whether to retain the current administration or seek an alternative political direction.
The NDC vice-presidential candidate criticised the APC campaign council and questioned the role of individuals participating in Tinubu’s re-election campaign amid the economic difficulties facing Nigerians.
His argument was essentially that voters should see the election as a choice between those responsible for the current situation and Nigerians experiencing the consequences of government policies.
Ahmad disagreed with that approach, insisting that political rhetoric should not replace a substantive discussion about policies and performance.
‘Let Nigerians Decide’
The APC-supporting camp has increasingly pushed back against attempts by opposition politicians to make hardship, economic pressure and alleged poor governance the central themes of the 2027 election.
Ahmad argued that voters should instead be allowed to examine the records of the Tinubu administration alongside the proposals of opposition candidates before reaching a decision.
“The 2027 election should therefore be about performance, ideas and the future of Nigeria, not inflammatory labels of ‘oppressors’ and ‘oppressed’. Let Nigerians decide.”
The exchange highlights the growing political battle over the narrative that will dominate the 2027 presidential campaign.
While opposition figures are expected to focus heavily on economic hardship, governance and the performance of the Tinubu administration, the APC camp is positioning the election as a contest between its reform agenda and the alternative programmes being offered by opposition parties.
The APC has already constituted its Presidential Campaign Council, with President Bola Tinubu serving as chairman and Abdul’aziz Yari as Director-General.
With the 2027 election campaign now gathering momentum, the disagreement between Kwankwaso and Ahmad reflects an emerging battle not only over political candidates but also over how Nigerians should interpret the state of the country and the choices before them at the polls.
