Campaigners under the aegis of the Renewed Hope Project 2027 have dismissed the planned alliance among opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Donald Duke and other political actors, saying the move poses no serious threat to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

The Chairman of the group’s Board of Trustees, retired Major General Abdulmalik Jibril, described the proposed opposition coalition as an “exercise in futility,” insisting that the performance of the Tinubu administration, rather than political calculations, would determine the outcome of the 2027 presidential election.

Jibril spoke during the inauguration and official unveiling of the Renewed Hope Project 2027, held under the theme, “A New Beginning, A Shared Vision, With Greater Nigeria.” The event was attended by party stalwarts, government officials and youths from across the country.

Reacting to efforts by opposition leaders to form a common front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Jibril said the proposed combination of opposition politicians would not affect Tinubu’s chances of securing another term in office.

“All put together is an exercise in futility. We have seen them before; they have done nothing and they are not going to do anything again. So, we are not perturbed at all. We don’t care about what they do,” he said.

According to Jibril, the 2027 election should be determined by the administration’s record and the impact of its policies on the lives of Nigerians rather than political rhetoric.

He challenged the opposition to identify any previous administration that had delivered achievements comparable to those of the Tinubu government.

“If anybody has done anything similar or above what we have done in this administration, let him come forward with it. It is not an issue of argument or just talk. It is a question of what people can see on the ground,” he said.

The retired military officer also rejected comparisons between the current political environment and the circumstances that led to the APC’s victory over the Goodluck Jonathan administration in 2015.

He argued that the 2015 election was influenced by widespread perceptions about the performance of the government at the time, stressing that those circumstances could not automatically be applied to the Tinubu administration.

“Of course, people have the right to talk about rhetoric, but talking about reality and what is on the ground, we can’t compare what happened in 2015 and now,” Jibril said.

Jibril also dismissed claims that dissatisfaction in the North could undermine Tinubu’s chances in 2027, describing such assertions as opinions and rumours that did not reflect the situation on the ground.

He said several government programmes had benefited Nigerians in the region, particularly in education, infrastructure, technology transfer and skills acquisition.

He cited the student loan scheme as one of the initiatives capable of expanding access to higher education for young Nigerians from low-income families.

The Renewed Hope Project 2027 chairman further highlighted technology-transfer initiatives and skills-acquisition centres established under the administration, arguing that they were creating opportunities for young Nigerians across the country.

According to him, the North had “a lot to thank this government for,” adding that the group would take the administration’s message directly to communities ahead of the 2027 election.

“We are ready and willing to take it to the grassroots and advertise our government, sell them because of what they have achieved,” he said.

Jibril listed what he described as key achievements of the Tinubu administration, including improved funding and equipment for security agencies, efforts to tackle banditry and kidnapping, and the Safe School Initiative.

He also cited the 3MTT digital skills programme, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative, student loans, the ₦75 billion SME intervention fund, recruitment into security agencies, the National Apprenticeship and Technical Education Programme (NATEP), social investment programmes and youth grants.

According to him, the removal of fuel subsidy and foreign exchange reforms had improved government revenue, while infrastructure projects, including roads and bridges, were creating opportunities for economic expansion.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the Renewed Hope Project 2027, Malam Dauda Salihu, said the organisation would take the administration’s policies and achievements directly to Nigerians at the grassroots.

Salihu said the group would focus on engaging communities, explaining government programmes and encouraging voters to assess the administration based on its record and the impact of its policies.

The organisation said it was prepared to counter the opposition narrative as political consultations intensify among opposition leaders ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, represented at the event by Prof. Babatunde Bernard, described the Renewed Hope movement as an initiative capable of galvanising support for President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election.

Akume, who is the Grand Patron of the movement, said the organisation would present what he described as verifiable facts about the administration’s performance as it mobilises support for the president.

He argued that the Tinubu administration was addressing some of Nigeria’s structural challenges at their roots, citing local government autonomy and digital reforms as examples of measures aimed at strengthening governance and improving service delivery.

He added that difficult decisions and sacrifices were sometimes necessary for national development, while pointing to growing interest from foreign investors as evidence that confidence in Nigeria’s economy was improving.

With the ruling APC and opposition forces already positioning themselves for the 2027 contest, the political battle is expected to increasingly focus on competing narratives over governance, economic reforms, security, social programmes and the overall performance of the Tinubu administration.