Maxwell Opara, a prominent Abuja-based legal practitioner, has triggered intense national conversations across the country regarding the upcoming general elections scheduled for January 16, 2027. He provided a critical breakdown of how the key opposition political figures stand a chance to contest effectively against the heavy political machinery of the ruling party.
According to a video posted on the Official YouTube channel of Arise News on Monday, June 1, 2026, while analyzing the structural advantages of the current administration ahead of the next presidential contest, he stated, “former President Buhari never gave Tinubu support and made things difficult for him, yet Tinubu still won, let alone now that he is the incumbent,” referring to the complex political landscape.
The legal practitioner emphasized that the opposition forces face an uphill task because the president proved his political resilience by winning the previous election without utilizing federal incumbency powers. He noted that navigating the current political landscape requires highly coordinated strategies since the ruling party now wields full control over state administrative machineries.
Opara argued that many current political actors underestimate the strategic capabilities of the executive arm, especially regarding internal party containment and resolving grievances among members. He stated that the presidency possesses substantial structural resources and patronages that can easily dissolve threatening internal rebellions or outside alliances before the general elections arrive.
In his concluding remarks, the legal practitioner warned that the fragmented opposition will struggle significantly unless they establish transparent internal democracy and mobilize dedicated grassroots foot soldiers. He noted that relying merely on media hype without solid local structures will allow the current administration to retain power with relative ease at the polls.