Tinubu tells 2027 rivals: We’ll wrestle ourselves to the finishing line

President Bola Tinubu has declared that he will not give up power without a political fight ahead of the 2027 presidential election, warning opponents seeking to unseat him to prepare for a tough but fair democratic contest.

The President made the remarks while receiving members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where discussions focused on national development, governance, education, security and the future of the country.

Tinubu, who is seeking re-election in 2027, said political opponents were free to challenge him but should not expect him to make the path to the presidency easy.

“Those who would take it from me will try. They will try. All is fair in politics, and there is equal opportunity,” the President said.

“I won’t offer them a red carpet. I won’t offer them the leash to tie me at home.

“No, we will wrestle each other to the finishing point. That’s the truth. That is fair in politics.”

The remarks come as political parties and prospective candidates begin preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) expected to defend its control of the presidency while opposition parties work to strengthen their chances through alliances and political realignments.

Among the prominent opposition figures expected to play major roles in the 2027 contest are Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Peter Obi, the candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Tinubu also defended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against allegations that it favours the ruling party, insisting that the electoral body had remained neutral and had not intimidated political actors.

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“INEC is neutral. They have never intimidated anybody. If political opponents are crying wolf, then they are afraid of their own shadows and the uncertainty in the company they keep,” he said.

The President maintained that Nigeria’s democratic system provides equal opportunities for political parties and candidates to campaign, mobilise supporters and seek the mandate of voters.

He said electoral competition should be conducted within the law and that political disagreements should not undermine public confidence in democratic institutions.

Tinubu also used the meeting to defend the performance of his administration, saying difficult reforms introduced since he assumed office were beginning to produce positive results.

According to him, the government had accepted responsibility for addressing the economic and structural challenges it inherited rather than avoiding difficult decisions.

“This government has stabilised, and there is prosperity on the horizon. The quality of life is improving,” Tinubu said.

“I inherited it. I didn’t run away. I asked for this job. I’m in it.”

The President identified the uninterrupted academic calendar in public universities as one of the achievements of his administration.

He said the absence of prolonged strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had enabled students to complete their academic programmes without the repeated disruptions that affected university education in previous years.

“None of your children in university today, and I would say they are all your children because you are Reverend Fathers, can say a four-year course is not four years,” Tinubu said.

“ASUU is not on strike. They are not bringing agony to your homes. Is that not an answer to our prayers? To me, that’s an answer.”

Tinubu also addressed the long-standing demand by the Catholic Church for the return of mission schools, explaining that state governments have the authority to decide on the ownership and administration of schools within their jurisdictions.

He recalled that mission schools were returned to their original owners during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State and urged the bishops to engage governors across the country on the matter.

“The schools are in the states. Preach to them, the governors of your states. They do the job,” he said.

“There is no need for a constitutional amendment for that. That is part of democracy. Choice.”

On national security and unity, Tinubu acknowledged that Nigeria continued to face significant challenges but expressed confidence that the country could overcome them through cooperation, responsible leadership and a shared commitment to national development.

“The security situation is what it is. We don’t have another country but here,” the President said.

“This Nigeria. And we revert to our national anthem in its complexity and diversity; we shall thrive, live, rejoice and be good to all of us.”

Tinubu said Nigeria’s founding leaders handed down a country that must be strengthened and preserved for future generations.

“Our founding fathers did their best. They left us a nation, and we owe it to our generations yet unborn to build a nation of unity, stability and prosperity for the future,” he added.

The meeting was led by Archbishop Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso and lasted for about an hour. It provided an opportunity for the Catholic bishops and the President to exchange views on governance, education, security, national cohesion and other issues affecting Nigerians.

Tinubu’s comments are expected to generate fresh political debate as preparations for the 2027 presidential election gather momentum.

While the APC seeks to retain power and secure another term for the President, opposition parties are expected to intensify consultations and political alliances as they work to present a strong challenge in the next election.

Tinubu tells 2027 rivals: We’ll wrestle ourselves to the finishing line

Oshiomhole Just Revealed the Real Reason Obi Defeated Tinubu in Lagos 

Senator says cash scarcity and public anger, not political strength, produced Labour Party’s 2023 upset in Nigeria’s commercial capital

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North Senatorial District, has claimed that Peter Obi’s victory over President Bola Tinubu in Lagos during the 2023 presidential election was largely driven by public anger over the naira redesign policy introduced under former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele. Speaking on Monday during an interview on TVC News’ Beyond the Headline programme, Oshiomhole argued that the cash scarcity triggered by the policy alienated voters from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and created the conditions that worked in Obi’s favour. The former Edo State governor and ex-APC national chairman maintained that Obi’s performance was not a reflection of personal political strength but rather a reaction to economic difficulties Nigerians faced under the final months of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. He insisted that the former Anambra State governor emerged from an “unusual situation” rather than a genuine political realignment.

“I have said this, but many people may not agree. Obi was produced by an unusual situation,” Oshiomhole said. “When a ruling party decided to destroy itself as to make anybody running election on its platform unelectable. It is that confusion that brought those votes to Peter Obi”. Oshiomhole traced the discontent to the naira redesign policy implemented during the final months of Buhari’s administration, saying it “virtually confiscated people’s money” and turned voters against the APC in Tinubu’s home state. “Former President Muhammadu Buhari suddenly changed the colour of the currency and virtually confiscated people’s money,” he said.

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According to the senator, the severe scarcity of cash forced many residents to spend long hours at automated teller machines (ATMs) and later depend on Point-of-Sale (POS) operators to access their own money, fueling resentment against the government. “People had money in the bank, but they can’t access it; they go to ATM machine, they queue all night to get ₦10,000, and after a week, even the ATM were dried of cash,” Oshiomhole recalled. He added that many Nigerians also had to pay exorbitant charges to POS operators to obtain cash during the period, compounding their frustration. “People started going to the Point-of-Sale, POS. And I remember one statement somebody made, which captured the situation, that why will you queue all night to withdraw ₦5,000? Then you go and queue for two nights to get 10 litres of PMS, and then those people expect that on election day, you will queue to vote for them?” he said.

He maintained that the resulting dissatisfaction translated into votes against the APC, enabling the Labour Party candidate to emerge victorious in Lagos. “It is this anger that, in my view, deliberately created by the president before Tinubu that made people vote against the APC in Lagos, making Peter Obi to defeat President Tinubu,” Oshiomhole said. The senator also suggested that the events surrounding the naira redesign were linked to the political ambitions of former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele. He alleged that the policy emerged after Emefiele was unable to pursue his reported presidential ambition, describing the move as an attempt to “choke and suffocate the system” that created confusion within the political system. Oshiomhole had earlier in February 2023 claimed that the CBN deceived Buhari into approving the naira redesign policy, alleging that the bank sold an anti-corruption motive to the President, particularly the need to curb vote-buying during the elections, which made him approve the policy.

The former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President also recalled conversations with constituents who blamed the government for the hardship caused by the cash shortage. “A woman in my village told me, ‘You said I should keep my money in the bank, but when I went to collect it, they said there was no money. At the POS, they deducted ₦2,000 from ₦5,000. How do I survive?'” he recounted. The senator maintained that the policies responsible for the hardship were not part of the APC’s political agenda. “I told her what Buhari was doing at that time was not APC policy. It was that anger that influenced the outcome of the election,” he said.

The naira redesign policy remains one of the most debated decisions of the Buhari administration. Introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria in late 2022, the policy aimed to replace high-denomination naira notes and encourage the return of cash held outside the banking system. However, its implementation led to severe cash shortages across the country, disrupting business activities and making it difficult for many Nigerians to access money for daily transactions. The cash crisis was rooted in the CBN’s October 2022 decision to redesign the ₦200, ₦500 and ₦1,000 notes, with the rollout triggering severe scarcity in the weeks before the February 25, 2023 poll, sparking protests across several states as citizens struggled to access legal tender. Oshiomhole’s latest remarks add to the continuing debate over the political consequences of the naira redesign policy and its impact on the outcome of the 2023 general elections, particularly in Lagos, where Peter Obi recorded one of his most significant electoral victories.

Oshiomhole Just Revealed the Real Reason Obi Defeated Tinubu in Lagos 

No Sin in Politics: Wike Welcomes Fubara Back to Political Fold

FCT Minister says governor had “no other choice” but to return to political family that produced him, as reconciliation boosts Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday formally welcomed Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara back into his political fold, declaring that “there is no sin in politics” and insisting that the governor had “no other choice” than to return to the political family that produced him. Speaking with journalists after inspecting ongoing road projects across the Federal Capital Territory, Wike said Fubara’s decision to publicly align once again with his political camp was a step in the right direction, adding that the reconciliation would strengthen support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election. “I said during my last media chat that he had no other choice but to return to the same political family that produced him. I have now been informed that he has made that declaration publicly, and we welcome him,” the minister said. “Our doors are open. Everyone is welcome for us to work together. There is no better alternative. We will all work together to move the state forward.” The FCT Minister dismissed suggestions that Fubara’s return amounted to forgiveness after months of political disagreement, saying politics should not be viewed in terms of wrongdoing. “I don’t know what you mean by sin. In politics, there is no sin. If someone realises they made a mistake and decides to correct it, there is nothing wrong with that. Politics is not a sin. What matters is recognising that you were on the wrong path and making the right decision.”

Wike recalled that he had predicted Fubara’s return during his last media chat, saying the governor had no alternative but to return to his political roots. “Our doors are open. Everyone is welcome for us to work together. There is no better alternative. We will all work together to move the state forward,” he said. The minister also said Fubara’s public declaration of reconciliation would strengthen efforts to mobilise support for President Tinubu’s second-term bid. “He has publicly stated that he has returned to where he started, and we receive him with an open mind. There is nothing to hide. We will all work together to ensure that we deliver the votes President Tinubu needs for his re-election,” Wike said. Fubara had, during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Rivien Medical Industry project in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State last week, announced that he had returned to Wike’s political family. The governor declared support for the Rainbow Coalition, endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term, and urged his supporters to back all candidates of the coalition. “The time of war is over. It is now time for peace, and this peace is taking us to another level,” Fubara told supporters. The rapprochement caps a crisis that repeatedly tested Nigeria’s federal structure. The feud erupted months after Fubara took office in May 2023 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, pitting him against Wike loyalists who dominated the State House of Assembly. It escalated into a prolonged standoff over control of the legislature, the local government system, and the state’s finances.

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On March 18, 2025, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers, suspending Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the 32-member Assembly, and installing a retired naval chief, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, as sole administrator. The presidency cited a “total paralysis of governance,” security concerns over pipeline vandalism, and a legislative deadlock. The action drew more than 40 court challenges over its constitutionality and became one of the most contested executive decisions of Tinubu’s tenure. The emergency ran its full six months. During that window, the administrator conducted local government elections on August 30, 2025, in which the All Progressives Congress won 20 of the 23 councils, tightening the party’s grip ahead of 2027. President Tinubu lifted the emergency and reinstated the elected officials on September 18, 2025. Fubara’s realignment has since gathered pace. He formally joined the APC in December 2025, then withdrew from the party’s governorship primary in May 2026 after the national secretariat declined to clear him, paving the way for Hon. Kingsley Chinda to secure the ticket. His endorsement of the coalition now places the governor and his predecessor on the same side for the first time since 2023.

The minister spoke while leading senior officials of the FCT Administration on an inspection of major road projects, including the ongoing ISEX Road Corridor and the nearly completed Apo-Karshi Road, both regarded as strategic infrastructure expected to unlock development across large sections of the capital city. Wike expressed satisfaction with the pace of work on the ISEX Road, noting that construction commenced immediately after President Tinubu flagged off the project during the third anniversary commissioning of landmark infrastructure across the FCT. “This road was flagged off during the third anniversary commissioning. We came here today to assess the progress made since the flag-off, and as you can see, the contractor moved to site immediately after the ceremony,” he said. According to the minister, the contractor has assured the administration that the project will be ready for commissioning in December. “I believe them. They are committed to handing over this project by December. We will be very happy because this road will open up the entire area for development,” he stated. The minister also inspected the long-delayed ISEX Road project, describing it as one of the last major inherited infrastructure projects yet to be completed in the FCT. Awarded in 2014, the 10-kilometre road, complete with interchanges, has remained unfinished through successive administrations. Wike disclosed that the contractor had undertaken to complete six kilometres of the road and key interchanges before the end of the year, provided adequate funding is released. “We have appealed to the Minister of Finance because the project is already captured in the national budget. If part of the funds is released, the contractor will be able to meet the deadline,” he explained. He described the project as critical to the transformation of Abuja, saying discussions with the Federal Ministry of Finance would continue until the required funds are made available. “This project is very important to us because it will significantly change the landscape of the Federal Capital Territory.”

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The minister said the near completion of the Apo-Karshi Road and the expected delivery of the ISEX Road would mark the fulfilment of one of the administration’s major promises — to complete inherited projects rather than abandon them. “The Access (ISEX) Road will be the last major inherited project awarded by a previous administration to be completed. Once we achieve that, we can confidently say we have fulfilled our promise to complete projects inherited from previous administrations instead of allowing them to become abandoned.” Reflecting on the state of infrastructure when the Tinubu administration assumed office in 2023, Wike recalled that abandoned projects littered the capital city, slowing development and denying residents essential infrastructure. “The FCT is the nation’s capital, and having abandoned projects everywhere does not present a good image. When we assumed office in 2023, abandoned projects were scattered across the territory. That situation slowed development, delayed infrastructure delivery and affected communities.” Wike assured that between eight and ten major road projects across the FCT will be completed before the end of the year. The target includes the long-delayed Apo-Karshi road project, initially awarded in 2010 that suffered over a decade of delays. Work is now progressing rapidly under new management following the termination of the former contractor’s engagement over non-performance and its re-award to another company. At the Bwari-Kubwa corridor, the minister acknowledged the difficult terrain confronting engineers on site but cautioned contractors against seeking to push back agreed delivery dates, assuring that the administration would ensure prompt release of funds to enable completion of the road before the onset of heavy rains. Responding to questions on the political calendar and how it might affect project timelines, Wike insisted that governance remains a continuous process driven by President Bola Tinubu’s mandate. “Has the tenure of Mr President ended? Certainly not. His first tenure will be ending precisely May 29, 2027. So, if that is the case, it means that the work has also not ended,” he stated. The minister stressed that continuity in governance, not the pursuit of personal legacy, defines responsible leadership. “Leadership requires continuity. Some people assume office and say they will only focus on projects they initiated. That is not leadership. Good leadership is continuing projects that are vital to the development of the city, projects that transform the landscape and improve the economy.”

No Sin in Politics: Wike Welcomes Fubara Back to Political Fold