Leke Baiyewu, Abuja – Campaigners for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, claim that he may become the biggest beneficiary of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recent naira‑note redesign. Some APC chieftains argue that the policy was deliberately targeted at Tinubu, and that it could generate sympathy votes in the upcoming election. In separate interviews on Sunday, Tinubu’s loyalists said the candidate has won popular support by openly opposing the federal government’s actions and inaction, which they say have caused hardship for ordinary Nigerians.
At an APC presidential rally held on January 26 at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Kuto, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Tinubu alleged that the ongoing crises over premium‑motor‑spirit (petrol) scarcity and the CBN’s naira redesign were part of a plot to derail the polls and his expected victory. Senator Adesoji Akanbi, a close associate of Tinubu, noted that while other parties and candidates also need cash for their campaigns and have been affected by the CBN policy, the ruling party’s candidate might gain swing votes as a result. “It might end up favouring Asiwaju that they were targeting. A lot of people are realising that it is all because of him. It is becoming a rhythm. There will be sympathy votes because people believe it is targeted at him, and the mere fact that he said he was against the policy will be a bonus for him,” Akanbi said.
Akanbi added that Tinubu’s imminent victory was evident from the large crowds at recent campaign rallies, despite cash scarcity frustrating the masses. Another APC leader from the South‑West, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Tinubu would be “sold” to the electorate as the “lover of the masses” among the presidential candidates, given his stance against the “anti‑people policies” of the current regime.
Meanwhile, a faction of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) is set to announce Tinubu as its presidential candidate this week. Alfa Mohammed, the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, told our correspondent on Sunday, “Yes, we have made up our mind: it is Asiwaju. In fact, barring any logistical constraint, we will adopt Asiwaju in the next few days. We will call a press conference to do that. The only problem we have is logistics. Note that we are doing it voluntarily. We love Asiwaju. We believe that the man will move Nigeria forward. If he enters the presidency, it will benefit all. So, that is the best person.” He added that the faction had been communicating with the party’s 36 state chapters.
When reminded that another SDP faction had dismissed claims of talks with the APC to adopt Tinubu, Mohammed insisted his group represented the mainstream faction. “It is normal when you have a faction. The other faction is allegedly discussing with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, but their candidate has not made up his mind. We are the people that own the SDP; we were elected under Chief Olu Falae. Those other people are the PDP people that came with Prof Jerry Gana. So, the grassroots belong to us,” he said.
Senator Akanbi, who is reportedly leading negotiations with the SDP faction and other parties, said other parties are aligning with Tinubu and collapsing their structures because they believe he will win the election. “They are not coming with a significant number of members, but they are adopting Tinubu with the hope of having their interests protected when the APC candidate becomes president. We will not say no to that, but we are not relying on it. Their actions show they think Asiwaju has a better chance of winning, so they are doing it for future benefits in terms of collaboration, appointments, governance and participation,” he explained.
In contrast, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar concluded his rally in Adamawa on Saturday with five political parties—the Allied Peoples Movement, African Democratic Congress, National Rescue Movement, Action Alliance and Action Peoples Party—dropping their own candidates and adopting him.
The Southwest APC chapter has urged residents to reject growing voter apathy as the general election approaches. Zonal publicity secretary Ayo Afolabi issued a statement on Sunday, asserting that those behind the CBN policy are exploiting former President Muhammadu Buhari to further a hidden agenda aimed at turning Nigerians against the APC and its candidate, Bola Tinubu. “Among all the presidential candidates, only Tinubu is pleading on the side of the hapless masses, while the rest, especially the PDP candidate Atiku Abubakar, do not care what becomes of the hapless masses that bear the brunt of this policy,” Afolabi said.
He expressed sympathy for millions whose livelihoods have been threatened—farmers, transporters, livestock dealers, point‑of‑sale operators, retail grocers and traders—and assured them of Tinubu’s commitment to help them recover. “We call on residents to see beyond this shenanigan and refuse to give in to apathy. Go out and vote for the APC on February 25 to herald an era of ‘renewed hope,’ which Tinubu has promised and can deliver,” the statement concluded.
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