By Francis Onyeukwu
Elder statesman Alhaji Tanko Yakasai says that, as things stand, no individual currently poses a greater electoral challenge to President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday, Yakasai said that Tinubu remains the most formidable contender due to the support structure around him and the absence of a credible opposition alternative.
“At the moment, I don’t see anyone who has the strength, structure, or national backing to defeat Tinubu,” Yakasai said.
He also clarified that the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF)—to which he belongs—has not endorsed any candidate for the 2027 polls.
According to him, public statements attributed to the ACF or the Northern Elders Forum on northern presidential support are largely personal opinions.
“I haven’t heard of any official discussion or resolution by the ACF on who should contest the 2027 election,” he said. “The north as a bloc is yet to take a formal position.”
Yakasai stressed that, beyond political rhetoric, Tinubu currently enjoys the advantage of incumbency, control over state structures, and support from both ruling and opposition governors.
“Tinubu has his ministers, state governors, and significant political machinery backing him,” he noted. “Even some opposition governors are showing him support. For now, I don’t see anyone else with the political stamina to challenge him effectively.”
He also pointed out that internal divisions within the major opposition parties have further strengthened the president’s chances of re-election.
While he declined to assess the Tinubu administration’s performance over the past two years, Yakasai urged politicians to prioritise national interest over personal ambition.
“Our politicians should move away from the obsession with positions and focus instead on ideology and programmes that serve the people,” he said. “Nigeria must come first—ethnic and religious politics have hindered our development for far too long.”
Reflecting on his own life, Yakasai—who turns 100 in December—attributed his longevity to divine grace and family genetics. He noted that his father lived to 107, and his mother also neared 100 before her passing.
“I’m blessed with more than 80 children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren,” he said. “It’s all by the grace of God.”
