Fayose: Tinubu Will Beat Atiku and Obi in 2027 Election

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, believes President Bola Tinubu will defeat former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi in the 2027 presidential election, even if they team up.

Fayose shared his views on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday.

He mentioned that the opposition would have a tougher time if Atiku and Obi ran separately since their votes would be split.

“A three-way horse, maybe I am not putting it right. Atiku is there, Obi is there. Even if they come together, this man will still defeat them. But let us say they don’t come together, too bad for them because this election will be balkanised,” he said.

Fayose also predicted that the South-west would give Tinubu a lead of at least six million votes.

He stated that he had no personal issues with either Atiku or Obi but claimed that the political situation before the 2027 election would make it hard for either of them to win against Tinubu.

He pointed out that a race involving Atiku, Obi, and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso would split votes nationwide, just like in the 2023 presidential election.

Tinubu won the 2023 election with 8.7 million votes, while Atiku got 6.9 million and Obi had 6.1 million votes.

Fayose argued that the presidency should stay in the South for eight years before it returns to the North.

“The reality today is this power is coming to the South, the South must do eight years,” he said.

He described Tinubu as “the shortest point” through which power could go back to the North after the current government.

“If an Atiku comes in, he will be struggling to do eight years, if Obi comes in, he will want to say I will do eight years,” he said.

“May I say to you respectfully, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the shortest point to power going back to the North. Any Northerner contesting now is just contesting.”

Fayose, who was recently made chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency board by Tinubu, also expressed his belief that the president would secure at least 12 million votes in 2027.

“Unfortunately, you are not a politician. I am analysing based on my experience. You brought me to this place because you know that I knew a little about Nigeria. This politics is not a tea party,” he said.

He also stated that it has become harder to manipulate elections nowadays.

“To rig election now is very, very difficult,” he said.

Fayose linked his prediction to what he called improvements in the economy and infrastructure under Tinubu.

According to him, the president inherited a troubled economy after former President Muhammadu Buhari but has managed to stabilize it.

“The president had stabilised an economy that was in a critical situation after the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.

He also mentioned the unification of the foreign exchange market, which he said has helped businesses plan better, along with the student loan scheme and road projects.

Fayose admitted that some Nigerians might disagree with his views on the government’s performance, especially regarding the economy and infrastructure.

The former Ekiti governor is still with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but serves in the APC-led federal government.

He was part of the five PDP governors known as the G5 who opposed Atiku’s presidential bid before the 2023 election.

His appointment to the REA board by Tinubu has also faced criticism from opposition members, who question his support for the president. Fayose has called his role a result of political experience and what he sees as political realism.