A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stands no realistic chance of securing re-election in 2027, citing what he described as credible polling data and shifting political dynamics.
Rhodes-Vivour, who was the Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos State during the 2023 elections, made the remarks on Wednesday while appearing on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television.
“I have looked at data, we have polling that is going on now, credible polling—there is no pathway for the president to emerge victorious, that is why we are seeing all these shenanigans,” he said.
He further argued that the president’s electoral base, particularly in Northern Nigeria, has weakened significantly.
“There is no pathway for him. When you look at the North that gave him 62 per cent of his votes, you see the tsunami that is happening in the North,” Rhodes-Vivour added.
The Lagos politician also took aim at the structure of the current administration, alleging that governance has been narrowed to a select group.
“You have a president that created a government system that is just for the city boys. It is a city boys’ government. It’s not even a proper South-West government; it’s his cronies that are just in charge,” he said.
He linked the ongoing crises within opposition parties, including the ADC, to what he described as a deliberate attempt to weaken political rivals ahead of the next election cycle.
“So, the best pathway is to create an environment where he is the only candidate on the ballot for the presidency. That is what he is trying to achieve, but he is not going to succeed,” he stated.
His comments come amid heightened tensions within the ADC following the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove the names of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its portal as the party’s national chairman and secretary, respectively—a move the party has rejected.
Earlier in the week, prominent opposition figures including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi led a protest at INEC headquarters in Abuja, demanding electoral accountability.
The demonstration, which drew hundreds of supporters, underscores rising political tensions as the country inches closer to the 2027 general elections.
