“I don’t deceive myself, Tinubu will win in 2027,” Fayose dismisses ADC coalition

By Ayox Ojo

Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will deploy his understanding of game of politics to win re-election in 2027.

The former governor said this while speaking on Adaba 88.9 FM radio station on Sunday as reported by The Nation newspaper.

Fayose who is a chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP also dismissed the threats of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar opposition coalition of political party to take over Aso Rock presidential villa from Tinubu in 2027.

According to him, the opposition politicians who have now adopted the African Democratic Congress, ADC as their platform cannot stop Tinubu in 2027.

He added that that the President’s leadership qualities and understanding of Nigeria’s political systems will work to his advantage in the next general election.

“I do not deceive myself. President Tinubu will win in 2027. Although I’m not a member of his party [APC] but he will surely win and get re-elected again. If you remember, Asiwaju [Tinubu] was not supported by his party in 2023.

“Those against him then even came up with all manner of things that could stop him. You could remember what former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, did with our naira to stop him.

“Even the late (President) Muhammadu Buhari did not support him, but he still won. It’s because Tinubu understands politics and the game. He would win again; I can bet it with anyone. So, is it now that those who called themselves the coalition will now defeat him? No, I don’t deceive myself,” he said.

Fayose who said his support for Tinubu was “personal” reiterated that he will not abandon the PDP despite the current crises afflicting the party.

He, however, predicted a bleak future for the PDP, reiterating his earlier claim that the party will not be among the top three winners in the 2027 election.

The former governor said the PDP is now a ‘carcass’ with the defection of its key members to the ADC and the ruling APC.

He claimed the leadership of the PDP undermined him, despite his sacrifices to the development of the party.

He also defended his support for former-Rivers State governor and current Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike during the PDP crisis.

“There’s nothing to destroy again in PDP because it’s no longer a party. I laboured in this party and, to whom much is given, much is also expected. I have paid my dues for the PDP. The majority of them in the ADC today drew the strength of the PDP, including Rotimi Amaechi, David Mark, and Nasir El-Rufai,” he said.

“I’m not a member of the APC, but those who accused me of anti-party then are now leaving the PDP in droves. The problem of the PDP is self-inflicted. The party is in even more trouble and shambles.

“Obi was a PDP governor in Anambra, and Atiku Abubakar was a Vice President who continued to come in and exit. But Wike stayed in the party, funded the party, and you don’t want me to support such a person?” Fayose queried.

“So, I will never defect. I will never go to APC. When your family is in a crisis, do you leave the party? No. I’d better be there and be fighting within and see to the election exercise,” he said.

He said former Anambra State governor and the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi will likely come second in the election.

He said: “Mr Peter Obi will come second. The PDP will come fourth in the 2027 general election.”