2027: ‘Play Ethnic, Religious Cards to Defeat President Tinubu’, Momodu Tells Opposition Leaders
A 2023 presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dele Momodu, has called on opposition leaders to unite and adopt strategic approaches based on ethnic and religious alliances to increase their chances of defeating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 election.
Momodu expressed confidence in the possibility of a strong challenge to President Tinubu’s re-election bid, however; he asserted that no Southern candidate, including former President Goodluck Jonathan and Peter Obi, stands a realistic chance of unseating Tinubu on their own.
“It is very tempting for any watcher, and analysts, of Nigerian politics, to assume, and conclude, and make a fiat prediction, that the game is over for the opposition leaders ahead of the 2027 Presidential election…In reality, Nigeria has comfortably, voluntarily, and predictably, cruised, senselessly, into a one party State…Both the Executive and the Legislative arms finally crossed the Rubicon, yesterday, under the grip of the ruling party, APC.
“But, I still choose to be a chronic optimist. even at this stage…Several scenarios may still play out. The opposition has only one option left in order to be competitive…Since TINUBU has already locked down the South of Nigeria, seemingly, opposition must work speedily to lock down the North. With commonsense, this is feasible, even if difficult. I do not see any Southern candidate giving Tinubu any tough challenge. Not former President Jonathan. Not former Governor Peter Obi,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.
According to him, if Jonathan or Obi were to run as independent candidates, they would fail spectacularly.
“But if opposition is serious and determined to do whatever it takes, it must first unite and decide to play the ethnic and religious cards too. Opposition must pick a formidable Northern Muslim candidate with a very popular Southern Christian running mate against Tinubu’s likely Muslim/Muslim ticket,” Momodu advised.
The veteran journalist noted that the North has a parade of experienced politicians, pointing out that with the PDP, NNPP, and Labor Party “practically becoming orphaned”, they would be wise and smart to join forces with the ADC and rekindle the magic that gave birth to the APC in 2015.
He added that the game is not over but it requires candidates of absolute necessity.
