Civil society organisations, lawyers and opposition politicians have rejected the claim by Director-General of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdul’Aziz Yari, that the ruling party will remain in power beyond 2031.

The groups said political power belonged to the electorate and could not be guaranteed by any political party, regardless of its current influence or incumbency.

Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Auwal Rafsanjani, described Yari’s statement as partisan optimism that should not be presented as though future electoral outcomes had already been decided.

Rafsanjani said Nigerians would determine who governed the country in 2027, 2031 and subsequent elections through credible, free and fair polls.

He urged political parties to focus on addressing insecurity, unemployment, poverty, inflation, corruption and the rising cost of living rather than making declarations about prolonged political dominance.

Rafsanjani also cited the recent Osun governorship election as a reminder that voters could not be taken for granted, noting that even a governing party with strong political structures could lose an election when citizens decided otherwise.

Human rights lawyer Idris Faro similarly criticised Yari’s declaration, saying electoral victory should be based on a party’s programmes, policies and performance rather than pronouncements by politicians.

Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Dr Andrew Mamedu, said no government or political party could guarantee victory in 2027 or any subsequent election.

Mamedu urged Nigerians not to be discouraged from participating in elections by statements suggesting that the outcome had already been determined.

He said the APC could retain power if it improved governance and implemented policies that positively affected citizens, but stressed that the final decision remained with voters.

National Chairman of the Because Of Our Tomorrow Party, Sonny Adenuga, also warned the APC against confusing incumbency with an entitlement to permanent power.

Adenuga recalled previous declarations by political leaders about prolonged control of government, saying history had shown that political fortunes could change.

He urged the ruling party to learn from past political developments and allow Nigerians to determine who governs them through the ballot.

The groups maintained that political parties were free to aspire to retain power, but that such aspirations could not be treated as an entitlement to govern indefinitely.