2027: ‘Tinubu has become a god, nobody dares challenge him’ — Dele Momodu

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has claimed that governors, judges and lawmakers are afraid to challenge President Bola Tinubu, alleging that the President has become so powerful that political officeholders cannot openly confront him.

Momodu made the assertion during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Wednesday, where he also claimed that the opposition had devised a strategy to stop Tinubu from securing a second term in 2027.

“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 declared.

The publisher of Ovation Magazine alleged that some politicians publicly supporting Tinubu’s re-election were privately hoping for his defeat, claiming they were uncomfortable with his political influence.

Momodu also questioned the credibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing Tinubu of appointing too many people from the South-West to the electoral body.

“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.

“Nobody trusts Tinubu to run a free and fair election, including his own supporters.”

However, Momodu did not provide polling data to substantiate his claim that 90 per cent of Nigerians lacked confidence in the electoral process.

Speaking on the ADC’s preparations for the presidential election, Dele Momodu insisted that the opposition was working behind the scenes to prevent Tinubu’s re-election but declined to disclose its strategy.

“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.”

Asked about suggestions that Tinubu might refuse to accept defeat, Momodu maintained that Nigerians possessed the determination to influence the outcome of the election.

“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 assertions about the President’s influence over political officeholders and the private intentions of his supporters were not accompanied by independent evidence.