2027: Jonathan, Obi alone can’t stop Tinubu — Momodu

Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and Ovation magazine publisher, Dele Momodu, has called on opposition parties to form a united front ahead of the 2027 presidential election, urging them to strategically deploy what he termed the “ethnic and religious cards” if they intend to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu effectively.

Momodu made the remarks in a statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Wednesday, reacting to the wave of defections within the opposition, including that of Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, both of whom have either defected to or resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He lamented that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has now tightened its grip on power, controlling both the executive and legislative arms of government, and warned that without unity and strategy, the opposition risks total political irrelevance ahead of 2027.

“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,” he wrote.

Despite this, the veteran journalist expressed optimism that the opposition still has a path to competitiveness  but only through strategic alliance and regional balancing.

“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.”

Momodu argued that no Southern candidate, including former President Goodluck Jonathan or Labour Party’s Peter Obi, can pose a serious challenge to Tinubu in 2027 if they contest independently.

“I do not see any Southern candidate giving Tinubu any tough challenge. Not former President Jonathan. Not former Governor Peter Obi. If they run, looking more like independent candidates, they will fail spectacularly,” he wrote.

He therefore urged the opposition to form a coalition similar to the one that produced the APC in 2015, insisting that a Northern Muslim presidential candidate paired with a Southern Christian running mate would be the most viable ticket.

“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 stated.

Concluding his post, Momodu maintained that “the game is not over,” but warned that opposition parties must act swiftly and decisively. “It requires candidates of absolute necessity,” he added.