Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has stated that many politicians who publicly support President Bola Tinubu are unable to canvass votes for him in their areas.
Abaribe made the claim on Monday during an interview with Channels Television, in which he rejected the ruling All Progressives Congress’ (APC) demonstration of strength across states and political offices as detached from popular opinion.
During a discussion regarding the APC’s dominance of various levels of government, the senator stated that the true test of political support is at the grassroots.
He used a question previously posed by former Anambra State governor Peter Obi to make his argument.
“I come from Aba. I was discussing that the APC has this government and that government, and people were a little worried, and I asked one of them a question. In fact, that question was asked by Governor Peter Obi.
“He asked one of them, he said, This Abaribe here, will he go to Ariaria market and tell them to vote for Bola Tinubu? He can’t try it.”
“Most of the people saying they are supporting Tinubu cannot go to their homes and say it. They can’t. Why? Because they would be stoned when they go to say such a thing,” he added.
The senator also expressed confidence that Tinubu would be defeated in the 2027 general election, insisting that the president did not secure a genuine victory in the 2023 polls.
“Tinubu will lose in the 2027 election; he never won in 2023,” Abaribe said.
“We are going to meet him in the field, and we will see how he will couple together that thing that will make him win again; it won’t work.”
