PDP Chieftain Dan Ulasi Says It Will Take ‘Magic’ to Defeat Tinubu in 2027

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dan Ulasi, has warned opposition parties that defeating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election will require extraordinary political efforts.
Ulasi described Tinubu as one of Nigeria’s most strategic politicians, cautioning opposition leaders against underestimating his political strength as preparations intensify for the next presidential election.
He made the remarks on Friday while speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show, where he reflected on the opposition’s performance in the 2023 presidential election and the challenges ahead.
The PDP chieftain recalled that he had warned in 2023 that any politician who took Tinubu for granted would do so at their own peril. According to him, the outcome of that election demonstrated the importance of political strategy and effective grassroots mobilisation.
Ulasi also recounted an emergency meeting held before the 2023 election, involving former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, governors and other political figures. He said some participants expressed confidence that Atiku had already secured victory, but he challenged their optimism, arguing that the opposition had not done enough political groundwork to guarantee success.
“I said you must be jokers,” Ulasi recalled, describing his reaction to those who were confident of Atiku’s victory. He said he questioned what the opposition had done on the ground to demonstrate that the former vice-president could defeat Tinubu.
According to Ulasi, his concerns were vindicated when Tinubu eventually won the 2023 presidential election. He argued that opposition politicians must learn from that experience rather than assume that political support or internal confidence would automatically translate into victory.
Looking ahead to 2027, Ulasi expressed concern about the current state of the opposition, noting that it was reportedly more fragmented than it was during the last presidential election. He suggested that the divisions could further complicate efforts to challenge Tinubu at the polls.
“Only God will answer that question,” Ulasi said when discussing the prospects of defeating the president. He added that, given the political situation on the ground, “it will take some magic for anybody to stop Tinubu.”
His comments highlight the strategic and organisational challenges facing opposition parties as they prepare for the 2027 election, with political unity, grassroots mobilisation and candidate strength likely to remain key issues in the contest.