The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress against becoming overconfident about their chances in the 2027 presidential election.
Ayodele said relying heavily on money and political structures could prove insufficient if the administration fails to address the hardship and insecurity confronting Nigerians.
In a statement issued through his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, the cleric argued that public dissatisfaction could become a major challenge for the ruling party during the election.
He warned that excessive confidence within the APC could become a weakness rather than an advantage.
‘MONEY WILL NOT GUARANTEE VICTORY’
Ayodele specifically cautioned against the belief that financial resources could determine the outcome of the 2027 election.
He argued that Nigerians facing economic hardship and insecurity would ultimately make their own judgment at the ballot box.
The cleric also questioned whether the recently constituted presidential campaign council could significantly alter public opinion if the administration does not address the underlying challenges affecting citizens.
His comments amount to a political prediction and should therefore be understood as his assessment rather than an independently verified forecast of the 2027 election.
ECONOMIC PRESSURES AND THE APC
The warning comes at a time when the APC is preparing to defend the Tinubu administration’s record ahead of the election.
The government has pointed to economic reforms, infrastructure projects and other policies as evidence of progress, while opposition parties have continued to highlight the cost of living and other economic pressures.
Ayodele’s intervention adds another voice to the growing debate over whether political organisation alone can overcome public dissatisfaction.
With the campaign period gathering momentum, the APC will face pressure to demonstrate that its policies are translating into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.