Fashola Applauds Tinubu, Says Opposition Struggling To Replicate APC’s Coalition Success

Former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his pivotal role in leading Nigeria’s most successful political merger, the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a “unique historical achievement” that the opposition is still struggling to replicate.

Fashola made the remarks on Tuesday at a Lagos APC stakeholders’ forum held to reaffirm the party’s unity and endorse President Tinubu for a second term in office. The meeting, attended by key party stalwarts, serving and former officeholders, and grassroots mobilisers across Lagos, provided a platform to review the administration’s performance and consolidate support ahead of the next general elections.

In his address, the former Lagos governor commended Tinubu for his foresight, political dexterity, and resilience in building a coalition that transcended ethnic, regional, and ideological boundaries to unseat the then-ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015.

“This meeting is coming up at a time when some of those who stood in opposition against our emergence are now trying to form a coalition,” Fashola said. “And they are beginning to see how difficult it is to form the merger that produced the APC. History will tell you that it is the only merger that has occurred in Nigeria’s political history. It was difficult. They said it would not happen, and it happened.”

Fashola, who served as Chief of Staff to Tinubu during his tenure as governor of Lagos State before succeeding him in 2007, noted that the APC’s formation in 2013 was not an accident but the result of years of deliberate bridge-building and shared vision among political actors who were determined to provide Nigerians with a viable alternative to the PDP.

He explained that the success of the merger—bringing together the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and the nPDP—remains an unparalleled feat in the country’s democratic journey.

“Many underestimated the amount of negotiation, compromise, and sacrifice that went into that process,” he added. “It required leaders who could subsume their personal ambitions for the collective goal of rescuing Nigeria. President Tinubu was at the center of that historic undertaking, and that is why those who are trying to replicate it today are realizing it is not as easy as it looks.”

Fashola emphasized that while democracy thrives on competition and coalition-building, the opposition must understand that political mergers cannot be decreed or hastily assembled but must evolve organically through trust, shared values, and clearly defined common goals.

He urged APC members to remain united and focused on governance delivery rather than being distracted by opposition rhetoric.

“We must not take for granted the work that has been done to bring us this far,” he said. “The APC remains the only political family with a tested structure, an enduring ideology of progressivism, and a leadership pipeline that continues to renew itself at all levels.”

The forum also featured speeches from several party leaders, including Lagos APC Chairman Cornelius Ojelabi and other stakeholders who expressed confidence in Tinubu’s leadership and reaffirmed their commitment to the president’s ongoing reforms.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the party passed a vote of confidence in President Tinubu’s administration, praising his economic initiatives, infrastructural renewal efforts, and commitment to national unity despite current challenges.

The Lagos APC reaffirmed that the president’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” was beginning to yield results, citing the revival of key infrastructure projects, ongoing civil service reforms, and efforts to attract foreign investment.

Political observers see Fashola’s comments as a subtle but pointed reference to ongoing efforts among opposition figures to forge a “mega coalition” ahead of the 2027 elections. Talks of alliances between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and other smaller platforms have gained traction in recent months, with discussions reportedly centered on presenting a united front against the APC.

However, Fashola’s remarks underscore the challenges such opposition movements face—chief among them being ideological divergence, leadership tussles, and mutual distrust.

For Fashola and other APC loyalists, the lesson is clear: the coalition that birthed the APC was not a product of convenience but of conviction, strategic planning, and leadership—qualities they believe remain embodied in President Tinubu’s political legacy.

“The APC story is one of vision, courage, and perseverance,” Fashola concluded. “We built something that changed Nigeria’s political history. And it is that same spirit of unity and determination that we must carry forward to secure the nation’s future.”