According to a report by Leadership News, on Sunday, August 16, 2026, Anthony Sani, a former Secretary General of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), spoke about several national issues, including the 2027 general elections, the opposition parties, the economy and the credibility of past elections. He shared his views in an interview with Aza Msue.
Speaking about the preparations for the 2027 elections and the possibility of opposition parties working together, Sani said he believes the elections will eventually take place and pass, particularly because Nigerian voters are becoming more politically aware.
He also expects the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to perform better because of the experience it gained from previous elections.
However, he expressed concern about the way opposition parties are approaching the next election.
According to him, opposition groups have not done enough to present clear issues and alternative policies that would help voters decide which candidates deserve their support.
Sani noted that much of the opposition’s criticism has focused on the hardship Nigerians experienced after the removal of the fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira.
He argued that instead of only complaining about these policies, opposition parties should explain what they would do differently if given the opportunity to govern.
He recalled that the three major presidential candidates in the 2023 election had all spoken about removing the fuel subsidy.
Bola Tinubu received about eight million votes, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar got roughly seven million, while Peter Obi secured about six million votes.
According to Sani, the outcome showed that voters and candidates in 2023 understood that removing the fuel subsidy was an important policy decision, regardless of the difficulties that could follow.
He said Nigerians should by now be hearing more detailed policy alternatives from opposition parties, especially as the 2027 election approaches.
He observed that much of what is coming from the opposition appears to be complaints about the current situation.
Sani further argued that political reforms and economic changes often come with some level of difficulty, making it unrealistic to expect major improvements without an initial period of hardship.
He also expressed concern that many of the people presenting themselves as alternatives in 2027 are familiar political figures who have been involved in Nigerian politics for many years.
On the credibility of the 2023 general elections compared with elections held after 2015, Sani described the 2023 polls as relatively credible, free and fair. He pointed to the results in several states as evidence that the election was competitive.
He noted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) lost Lagos and Katsina states despite the party’s strength in national politics. He also mentioned that the APC performed poorly in most South-East states.
He said, “Bola Tinubu defeated former VP Atiku in the North. Only credible, free and fair elections could bring about such results in 2023.
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