Veteran journalist and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain Dele Momodu has questioned President Bola Tinubu’s ability to conduct a free and fair election in 2027, claiming that many Nigerians, including some of the President’s supporters, do not trust the process under his leadership.
Momodu made the remarks during an interview on Arise News, where he discussed the political climate ahead of the next general election and the prospects of the opposition challenging Tinubu’s bid for a second term.
According to the journalist, a large number of Nigerians doubt whether the President would oversee a credible election, although he did not cite any survey to support his estimate.
“If you ask an average Nigerian today about Tinubu, ‘Do you trust Tinubu to conduct a free and fair election?’ I can tell you, 90 per cent of them will say no,” Momodu said.
He argued that even some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) privately express confidence that the party will win rather than explain why they believe its electoral prospects are strong.
Momodu also raised concerns about speculation that Tinubu might resist leaving office if he loses the 2027 election. He said Nigerians would not accept such a scenario.
“In fact, some people are even suggesting that if Tinubu loses the election, he will not agree to step down. I say, why won’t he agree? We will chase him away,” he stated.
The ADC chieftain expressed confidence in what he described as the determination of ordinary Nigerians to seek a change in leadership, saying his expectations were not based solely on the strength of his political party.
He declined to disclose the opposition’s strategy for the election, but said political actors were working behind the scenes to prevent Tinubu from securing another term.
Momodu also compared the current political atmosphere with Tinubu’s political history, recalling his struggle to secure a second term as governor of Lagos State.
He suggested that some politicians who publicly support the President might privately have reservations about the concentration of political power and the influence it exerts over elected officials and other institutions.
According to him, some governors, judges and legislators are reluctant to openly challenge the President.
“So, Tinubu has become a god whom nobody is ready to confront and say, ‘Oga, you’ve done your best. Please, go home,’” he said.
Momodu’s comments reflect his position as an opposition figure ahead of the 2027 elections. However, his claim that 90 per cent of Nigerians distrust Tinubu’s ability to conduct a credible election was not accompanied by polling evidence in the remarks provided.
The credibility of the 2027 electoral process, the conduct of political parties and the willingness of candidates to respect the outcome are likely to remain central issues in political debate as preparations for the election continue.
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