The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) against becoming overconfident ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Ayodele said relying heavily on financial resources and political structures could work against the ruling party at the polls, arguing that economic hardship and insecurity had affected how Nigerians viewed the government.
In a statement issued on Friday by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, the cleric warned that the APC could underestimate the level of dissatisfaction among voters if it assumed that money and political influence would guarantee victory.
“Overconfidence will kill APC; they will be too overconfident, and that will be the party’s weakness in the election,” Ayodele said.
He further alleged that party leaders could elevate Tinubu to the status of a “demi-god”, which he said could ultimately contribute to the party’s defeat.
“They believe money can do everything, but it will fail in the 2027 election,” he added.
Ayodele said Nigerians facing economic difficulties and insecurity would not necessarily be persuaded by financial inducements during the election, warning that the APC could face voter rejection if it failed to address the challenges confronting citizens.
The cleric also dismissed the suggestion that the APC Presidential Campaign Council alone could change public perception of the President.
“If President Tinubu thinks the presidential campaign council will change the minds of Nigerians towards him, it’s a pure lie,” he said, arguing that the government needed to address the problems generating public dissatisfaction before the election.
He urged Tinubu to focus on improving living conditions and tackling insecurity, warning that failure to do so could lead to what he described as “serious rejection” of the ruling party.
Ayodele’s comments come as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general election, with the APC preparing to defend the presidency and opposition groups seeking to challenge Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The cleric’s remarks are a political prediction rather than an established electoral outcome, and the eventual result of the 2027 election will depend on voters and the electoral process.
