Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has boasted that despite the hardship, poverty and hunger citizens are currently going through as a result of President Bola Tinubu’s reforms and policies, Nigerians will still re-elect him as president come 2027.

Deputy National Organising Secretary of the party, Nze Chidi Duru, who made the boast in an interaction with journalists in Lagos, said he was convinced beyond doubt that come 2027, Tinubu would be re-elected despite the economic hardship and planned alliance between mega opposition parties.

Duru, who was reacting to insinuations that the current hardship and economic woes arising from Tinubu’s policies could lead to Nigerians voting against him, said the ruling party was not losing sleep because he was sure Nigerians would still vote for the president.

“Our party has always recognised the fact that the current challenging economic environment has not in any way got better,” Duru said.

“When Mr President took over, he asked Nigerians not to pity him. It is an office that he craved and worked hard for before offering himself to provide leadership to Nigeria.

“What gives confidence is that Mr President is very much aware of the expectations of the person on the street.

“The minimum expectation will be that they need to be comfortable. So, the discussion around 2027 election is not out of place. In the life of a country, four years is like yesterday.

“Let me say every political office holder or politician knows that the first date in office is key because the citizens who elected you into office and those who did not elect you will begin to track your performance as a result of that. They can then decide whether or not to re-elect you.

“Concerning whether we will be re-elected, as a democrat and my personal view, we have always canvassed that unless His Excellency President Bola Tinubu will not contest, the APC government is bound to be represented by our candidate in 2027 to fly the flag for the simple reason that I want to bring up. And, of course, there is the incumbency factor,” Duru boasted.

Former Zambian President, Edgar Lungu, has alleged that the government of President Hakainde Hichilema is attacking democratic norms by using the parliament to strangle the opposition.

Lungu, who made the allegations during a press conference in Lusaka on Friday while reacting to the sacking of nine members of the Patriotic Front (PF) from the parliament during the week, said his party would vigorously contest the expulsions of the MPs through legal and political means.

Lungu further expressed what he described as serious concerns about the current administration’s erosion of democratic principles and the rule of law in Zambia.

He also accused the current government of misusing the Speaker’s office to target perceived opponents of the ruling party, calling it an abuse of power.

“During my tenure, we never interfered with the workings of the National Assembly. My government respected national principles and the separation of powers,” Lungu said.

He warned that if Zambia fails to oppose the unconstitutional expulsion of lawmakers, it would signal a dangerous attack on democracy, adding that the Hichilema administration is displaying dictatorial powers, contrast with his administration’s practices since 2015 when he took office.

“Sadly, the respect for power and democratic principles that we upheld has been undermined under the current government. Since Mr. Hakainde Hichilema assumed power, we have witnessed a decline in governance integrity,” Lungu lamented.

“Those familiar with Article 72 of the Constitution will appreciate its significance. It’s crucial that we uphold the rule of law and democratic norms in our country,” he concluded.