2027: Tinubu now ‘untouchable’, governors, judges fear him, —Momodu

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has accused President Bola Tinubu of wielding excessive political influence, claiming that governors, judges and lawmakers are afraid to openly challenge his leadership.

Momodu made the allegation during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Wednesday, where he also expressed confidence that opposition forces were working behind the scenes to prevent Tinubu from securing a second term in the 2027 presidential election.

“Governors are scared, judges are scared, legislators are scared. So, Tinubu has become a god that nobody is ready to face and say, ‘Oga, you’ve done your best. Please go home,’” he said.

The publisher of Ovation Magazine alleged that the President’s political dominance had created an atmosphere in which elected officials were reluctant to confront him, even when they disagreed with his policies or political ambitions.

He further claimed that some politicians publicly supporting Tinubu’s re-election were privately hoping that he would lose the 2027 contest.

According to Momodu, the public posture of some political figures does not necessarily reflect their private preferences regarding the President’s political future.

However, he did not identify the politicians allegedly harbouring such reservations or provide independent evidence to support the claim.

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Momodu Questions INEC’s Credibility

The ADC chieftain also raised concerns about the credibility and independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), questioning whether Nigerians could trust the electoral body to conduct a free and fair presidential election.

Momodu accused Tinubu of appointing too many people from the South-West into the electoral commission, suggesting that the composition of the body could raise concerns about its perceived neutrality.

“If you ask an average Nigerian today about Tinubu, do you trust Tinubu to conduct a free and fair election? I can tell you, 90 per cent of them will say no,” he claimed.

He added that even some of the President’s supporters allegedly lacked confidence in his ability to guarantee a credible electoral process.

Momodu, however, did not cite any opinion poll or other empirical evidence to substantiate his assertion that 90 per cent of Nigerians distrusted the President in relation to the conduct of elections.

His comments come amid growing political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition parties seeking to strengthen their positions against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

ADC Working Behind the Scenes

Speaking on the ADC’s preparations for the presidential election, Momodu insisted that the opposition was developing strategies to stop Tinubu from securing a second term.

He declined to disclose the details of the plans, saying the party would not reveal its political calculations publicly.

“I can’t tell you about strategy in public. What we know is that once upon a time, Tinubu fought for himself to survive the second term as governor of Lagos State. So others are also working very hard behind the scenes,” he said.

“We are not going to come in public and say this, but we know what to do to make sure that he does not get that second term.”

Momodu’s remarks suggest that the opposition intends to pursue its electoral objectives through political organisation and other strategies that he said would remain undisclosed for now.

However, he offered no specific details about the proposed strategy or how the ADC intended to mobilise voters and challenge the ruling party in 2027.

Nigerians Will Determine Tinubu’s Political Future, Says Momodu

The ADC chieftain also dismissed concerns that Tinubu might refuse to accept defeat if he loses the next presidential election.

He maintained that the determination of ordinary Nigerians would be a significant factor in deciding the outcome of the contest.

“Look, you do not know the determination of Nigerians, and now I’m not resting my confidence on just my party. I’m talking about the ordinary man on the street who cannot imagine Tinubu coming back again,” he stated.

Momodu’s comments reflect the opposition’s emerging political messaging ahead of the next general election, as parties and political figures position themselves for what is expected to be a keenly contested race.

Nevertheless, his assertions about the President’s influence over governors, lawmakers and judges, as well as the alleged private opposition of some Tinubu supporters to his re-election, were not accompanied by independent evidence.

The credibility of the electoral process, the independence of INEC and the ability of opposition parties to mount a formidable challenge are likely to remain central issues in the build-up to the 2027 presidential election