2027: Opposition must play ethnic, religious cards to oust Tinubu – Momodu

By John Ogunsemore

President Bola Tinubu will coast to an easy victory in 2027 if his main challenger is a southerner, former presidential candidate Dele Momodu has said.

Momodu stated this in a statement on Wednesday on X in response to the wave of defections that have hit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in recent times.

Enugu Governor, Peter Mbah, recently quit the PDP and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) while Bayelsa Governor, Douye Diri, resigned from the PDP without disclosing his next political destination.

Momodu said the beleaguered opposition must unite and play what he termed “ethnic and religious cards” if it hopes to wrest power from Tinubu and the APC in 2027.

The former PDP chieftain said, “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.”

However, he said it is not all gloom as the opposition still has an opportunity to do damage to the APC hegemony.

“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 said.

According to him, no southerner, including former President Goodluck Jonathan and ex-Anambra governor, Peter Obi, can pose a significant challenge to against Tinubu in 2027 if they contest individually.

“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.”

Momodu, therefore, called on the opposition to form a merger coalition like the one that produced APC in 2015.

“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,” he added.