Primate Elijah Ayodele, leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has warned that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could face a challenging contest in parts of the South-West during the 2027 presidential election.
According to a statement attributed to his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, the cleric said Tinubu should not assume that support in the region would automatically translate into an easy electoral contest.
Ayodele specifically identified Lagos, Oyo and Osun states as areas where he expects the President to face political competition.
He argued that the administration would need to work to maintain support in the region ahead of the next general election.
Political Competition in the South-West
The South-West is an important region in Nigeria’s presidential politics and includes Tinubu’s home state of Lagos. The region’s electoral dynamics are influenced by party organisation, candidate appeal, local political alliances, economic conditions and voter priorities.
Ayodele’s remarks represent his own forecast about the political landscape. They do not establish how voters will behave or determine the eventual outcome of the election.
The 2027 contest will depend on the candidates, campaign platforms, voter participation, electoral administration and developments between now and polling day.
The cleric’s comments add to the growing discussion about the political calculations facing major parties as they prepare for the next presidential election.