President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians to reject opposition presidential candidates Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar in the 2027 general election, asserting that the two figures have nothing to offer the country. Speaking through Vice-President Kashim Shettima at an All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally in Akure, Ondo State, the administration characterized the opposition leaders as no match for the President and challenged them to present verifiable records in public office rather than relying on social media campaigns.
Shettima directed specific criticism at both opposition figures, questioning Atiku Abubakar’s political standing in his home state of Adamawa and alleging that former governors of the state do not support him. Regarding Peter Obi, the Vice-President described his tenure as Anambra State governor as "mediocre" and accused his campaign of relying on "obnoxious data" rather than achievements. "The ability to import cheap South African wines does not make one a guru in economics," Shettima stated, challenging opposition politicians to identify their major contributions over the past 25 years of democracy.
Political Consensus and Voter Mobilization
The Vice-President claimed that Tinubu enjoys a "universal elite consensus" in Ondo State, citing support from former Governor Olusegun Mimiko, former governorship candidate Chief Olusola Oke, SAN, and House of Representatives member Gboyega Adefarati. He contrasted this with the alleged lack of support for Obi and Atiku in their respective home states, noting that former Anambra governors Chris Ngige, Chinwoke Mbadinuju, and Willie Obiano, as well as incumbent Governor Charles Soludo, are not aligned with Obi. With Ondo State having 2.1 million registered voters, the APC is targeting at least 1.2 million votes from the 1.8 million residents who have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa pledged to deliver one million votes for Tinubu in the 2027 election, thanking the President for appointing three ministers from the state to oversee finance, interior, and youth portfolios. Aiyedatiwa listed his administration’s achievements, including the recruitment of more than 6,000 workers, road and bridge projects, and the rehabilitation of health institutions. "We will all go to the mountains, to the hills and everywhere to tell the people about your re-election," Aiyedatiwa said.
APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda described Tinubu as the most experienced and competent among the 18 candidates expected to contest the 2027 election. He stated that more than 31 states, which could not pay workers’ salaries when the President assumed office, could now meet their obligations. Meanwhile, APC Presidential Campaign Council Director-General Abdulaziz Yari emphasized that the party is seeking a substantial national vote margin for Tinubu, noting that the President has provided Ondo State with benefits equivalent to "about 10 ministers" despite it not being an oil-producing state.
Other speakers at the rally included Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, who urged residents to collect their uncollected PVCs and put grievances aside, and Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who argued that Nigeria needs statesmen rather than "petty traders" in politics. Oshiomhole praised the administration for appointing competent individuals to key positions and investing in infrastructure.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
