2027: Tinubu Has No Serious Opponent, Says Pro-Tinubu Group

A pro-President Bola Tinubu group in Ondo State, the Progressive Network for Tinubu (PNT), has declared that the 2027 presidential election is already sealed in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that President Tinubu faces no serious opposition ahead of the polls.

The declaration came amid reports suggesting that former President Goodluck Jonathan may be preparing to return to the race under a new political platform, a rumour that has sparked debate across political circles.

Speaking on Tuesday during the inauguration of local government structures across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State, PNT’s Director-General, Olumide Obadele, dismissed the speculation, describing it as unrealistic and unnecessary.

“Jonathan will not run at the end of the day. The Constitution is clear about it, and there’s no need to twist it. If he insists, he will only end up embarrassed and rubbished,” Obadele said.

The PNT boss advised the former president to preserve his legacy as a respected statesman by staying out of the 2027 contest.

“Beyond legal hurdles, Jonathan should uphold his reputation as a statesman and stay away from the 2027 race,” he said.

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Obadele argued that the PDP, Labour Party, and other opposition parties have become weak and disorganised, adding that none has the structure or national appeal to challenge the APC.

“Political parties such as the PDP, Labour Party, and ADC are in the ICU and lack the organisation to challenge the ruling APC. For me, 2027 is a done deal,” he declared.

According to Obadele, President Tinubu’s achievements within his first two years in office have solidified his position as the leading political figure in Nigeria.

He added that despite the economic challenges, the government was laying foundations for long-term recovery, which would translate into electoral goodwill.

“The opposition is on life support. The PDP and ADC cannot win even in their strongholds, and the Labour Party has lost its momentum. There’s no real competition for Tinubu in 2027,” he said.

The PNT Director-General also unveiled the group’s plan to expand grassroots mobilisation across Ondo State, where only about 28 per cent of registered voters participated in the 2023 general elections.

He lamented the rising voter apathy, especially among educated elites who prefer to engage in politics on social media rather than through the ballot box.

“Our goal is to awaken the remaining 70 per cent of voters who stayed home during the last polls,” he said.
“We’re engaging communities, youth groups, and civil organisations to enlighten them about Asiwaju’s leadership and achievements. We want Yoruba land to stand solidly behind him.”

Meanwhile, civil society organisations in Delta State have condemned the recent lawsuit filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking to bar former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.

The Director-General of the Young Nigerian Rights Organisation, Victor Ojei, described the suit as politically motivated and an abuse of judicial process, urging the court to dismiss it immediately.

“The case seeking to bar Dr. Jonathan from contesting the 2027 election is not only legally baseless but morally wrong,” Ojei said in a statement on Tuesday.

He argued that Jonathan’s assumption of office in 2010 followed the constitutional succession after the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, which should not be counted as a full term.

“The framers of our Constitution never intended such a lawful transition to be treated as an ‘elected term.’ Any argument to the contrary distorts both fact and law,” he said.

Ojei further maintained that the case suffers from a lack of locus standi, as the plaintiff has no legal capacity to initiate such an action.

“The individual who filed the suit neither represents any state institution nor has suffered any injury that warrants judicial intervention. It’s a speculative petition driven by political interests,” he added.

He warned that such politically inspired suits risk undermining democracy by preemptively silencing citizens before they even declare their intentions.

“To attempt to silence a citizen’s political right before he has even declared interest is unconstitutional and dangerous for our democracy,” he said.

The organisation called on the judiciary to guard its integrity and resist political manipulation, stressing that the courts must remain the last hope of the common man, not a playground for political adventurers.