Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Political Matters, Alhaji Ibrahim Masari, has said the President is not losing sleep over the activities of opposition candidates including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Masari, in an interview with the Guardian in Abuja maintained that the All Progressives Congress (APC) remained confident of retaining power, dismissing suggestions that the activities of opposition politicians had unsettled the ruling party.

He described the opposition’s efforts to build a common platform against Tinubu as “deceptive antics,” insisting that political alliances alone could not guarantee electoral victory.

According to him, the APC is not complacent about the 2027 contest but is already mobilising its structures and preparing for what he described as another keenly contested election.

Masari said the administration’s performance and the impact of its ongoing reforms would be central to the President’s campaign for a second term, expressing confidence that Nigerians would appreciate the benefits of the policies as their effects become more visible.

He argued that Tinubu inherited significant economic and structural challenges, stressing that the President had demonstrated the political courage to undertake reforms that previous administrations had avoided.

The presidential aide maintained that the reforms, particularly those aimed at repositioning the economy, would ultimately strengthen Tinubu’s electoral prospects.

He said the APC would continue to engage Nigerians and explain the rationale behind the administration’s policies, rather than allow the opposition to define the narrative around the government’s performance.

Masari also played down the significance of the emerging alliance between Atiku and Obi, saying the coming together of prominent politicians did not necessarily translate into the support of their respective political constituencies.

He said the APC would pay attention to the opposition’s activities but would remain focused on strengthening its grassroots structures and consolidating its support across the country.

On the party’s prospects in the North, Masari expressed confidence that Tinubu would retain substantial support in the region, arguing that the President’s policies and political engagements would continue to resonate with voters.

He said the APC was aware of the importance of the northern electorate to the 2027 contest and would continue to deepen its relationship with stakeholders in the region.

Masari also defended the decision to retain Vice President Kashim Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate, describing the partnership as effective and strategically important to the administration.

He explained that the choice of Shettima was based on considerations that went beyond political expediency, insisting that the Vice President had contributed significantly to the administration since its inauguration.

The presidential aide further provided an insight into his own role as Tinubu’s placeholder running mate during the 2023 presidential election process and the circumstances surrounding the eventual emergence of Shettima.

Masari also spoke about Tinubu’s personality and temperament, portraying the President as a politician who remains calm under pressure and focused on achieving his objectives despite criticism from political opponents.

He said Tinubu’s approach to governance was informed by his long experience in politics and his willingness to take difficult decisions in the national interest.

According to Masari, the President is more concerned with delivering on his mandate than responding to every criticism or political provocation from the opposition.

He insisted that the APC would not be distracted by the opposition’s activities, saying the party would continue to prepare for the election while allowing its record in government to speak for it.

Masari expressed optimism that the combination of Tinubu’s reforms, the APC’s political structures and the President’s growing political support would secure victory for the ruling party in 2027.

He said the ultimate test would come when Nigerians go to the polls, insisting that the APC would approach the election with confidence rather than fear of candidates of the opposition political parties.