Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti State, has predicted that President Bola Tinubu would secure re-election in 2027 general election despite dissenting from the coalitions of opposition figures in the country.
Fayose, a strong stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said President Tinubu remained unbeatable in the upcoming election owing to his leadership qualities and understanding of Nigerian political systems.
He spoke on a radio programme aired on Adaba 88.9 Fm in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Sunday and monitored by the Nation.
“I do not deceive myself. Tinubu will win in 2027. Although I’m not a member of his party (APC) but he will surely win and get re-elected again. If you remember, Asiwaju (Tinubu) was not supported by his party in 2023.
“Those against him then even came up with manners of things that could stop him. You could remember what former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, did with our Naira to stop him.
“Even the late Muhammadu Buhari did not support him, but he still won. It is because Tinubu understands politics and the game. He would win again, I can bet it with anyone. So, is it now that those who called themselves coalition will now win him? No, I don’t deceive myself,” he said.
Fayose explained that his support for President Tinubu was “personal,” saying he still remained in the PDP and would not leave for APC, despite the crack and division in the opposition party.
Amid the division, the former governor also predicted a bleak future for the PDP, warning that the umbrella party may not even finish among the top three in the 2027 general elections.
“So, I will never decampe. I will never go to APC. When your family is in crisis, do you leave the party? No, I better be there and be fighting within and see to the election exercise. Mr Peter Obi will come second. PDP will come fourth in the 2027 general election.”
According to him, the PDP has been left in ‘carcass’ with the defection of its key members from the party to the African Democratic Party (ADC) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He also lambasted the leadership of the PDP for undermining him despite his sacrifices to the development of the party, adding that his support for former Rivers governor and current minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike during the crisis in the opposition party was out of respect.
“There’s nothing to destroy again in PDP because it’s no longer a party. I labour in this party and to whom much is giving, much is also expected. I have paid my dues for the PDP. The majority of them in the ADC today drew the strength of the PDP, including Rotimi Amaechi, David Mark, and Nasir El-Rufia.
“I’m not a member of the APC, but those who accuse me of anti-party then are now leaving PDP in droves. The problem of PDP is self-inflicted. The party is even in more trouble and shambles.
“Obi was a former PDP governor in his Anambra and Atiku was a former vice president who continued to come in and exit but Wike stay in the party, funded the party and you don’t want me to support such person,” Fayose added.
He called for support for the governor of Ekiti, Abiodun Oyebanji, ahead of the state governorship election, saying those against his re-election in the state are enemies of progress.
Fayose, however, added that his support for Governor Oyebanji was because of the development projects embarked upon by his administration, stressing that all the past governors of Ekiti have decided to throw their support for his re-election bid.
The Nation
