No Opposition Can Defeat Tinubu in 2027 – Fayose
...Says Wike's Rainbow Coalition Won't Threaten President's Re-election
The former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu will win the 2027 presidential election, insisting that none of the opposition contenders has the political strength to defeat him.
Fayose stated this on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he also dismissed concerns that the “political realignment” involving the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and other opposition figures could undermine Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) Board asserted that the disagreements surrounding the “proposed coalition” are largely about the methods and interests of the individuals involved rather than opposition to Tinubu’s presidency.
“None of the parties have said they are not supporting the President. It is the methodology, the style, that is the issue,” Fayose said.
He maintained that the controversy surrounding the coalition would not diminish Tinubu’s chances in 2027, arguing that the various political actors involved were ultimately united in their support for the President.
Fayose also defended Wike’s position on the “Rainbow” arrangement, saying the former Rivers State governor should be allowed to pursue whatever political strategy he believes can deliver results in his political base.
“The method that works for him might not work for you,” he said, adding that political actors would naturally pursue their individual interests and exercise their influence within the political system.
On the possibility of the coalition affecting the fortunes of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Fayose stated that Wike’s strategy should not be interpreted as an attempt to undermine Tinubu.
He explained that Wike’s support was specifically focused on the presidential election and did not necessarily extend to other elective positions, stressing that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would remain relevant in other contests.
Fayose pointed out that political permutations at the state and national levels could produce different voting patterns, noting that Nigerian voters had historically demonstrated the ability to vote for different parties in the same election.
“Our politics is local,” he said, arguing that voters could make different choices when voting for the President, National Assembly members, and state-level candidates.
The former governor further dismissed the opposition’s chances against Tinubu, saying his assessment was based on his experience in Nigerian politics and his understanding of the country’s political dynamics.
“There is no comparison. Atiku, Obi or any of them cannot win this election,” Fayose remarked.
He also predicted that Tinubu would enjoy a significant advantage in the South-West, projecting a margin of between five and six million votes for the President in the region.
Fayose, however, noted that his support for Tinubu did not mean he would shy away from telling the President the truth about the challenges facing Nigerians.
“I am not somebody, I am no more a small boy. Whatever God has given us today, we can equally finish it again. So, we’ll be responsible to shy away from the truth,” he stated.
Defending the administration’s record, Fayose acknowledged the economic difficulties Nigerians have faced but argued that some infrastructure projects and government interventions represented progress.
He cited improvements in some roads and the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project, among others, while stressing that the challenges facing Nigeria could not be resolved overnight.
“You cannot finish the problems of Nigeria overnight.”
He also contrasted the current administration with the latter years of late former President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, arguing that the economy had become difficult to plan under the previous administration because of instability in the exchange rate.
Fayose maintained that despite the challenges confronting the country, the political opposition had yet to demonstrate sufficient organisational strength to dislodge Tinubu in 2027.
He further urged Nigerians to focus on the presidential contest, adding that the political disagreements currently generating controversy would ultimately play out in the electoral process.
