Former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has thrown his hat into the political ring. He's not contesting, but rather predicting the outcome of the 2027 presidential election. His prediction is bold: President Bola Tinubu will win, regardless of whether former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party candidate Peter Obi decide to team up against him.
Fayose, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, minced no words. He believes that if Atiku and Obi go head-to-head, their votes will be so divided that Tinubu will cruise to victory. But if they surprisingly unite? Fayose still sees Tinubu triumphing, though he suggested that a united opposition would at least make the race a bit more interesting, which he clearly doesn't expect.
He went on to paint a picture of Tinubu's dominance in the South-West, Fayose's home region. He's forecasting a margin of at least six million votes in favour of the current president. He questioned how either Atiku or Obi could possibly make significant inroads in a region he sees as firmly behind Tinubu.
Fayose, who recently took on the role of Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) board, appointed by President Tinubu, insists the opposition knows it's fighting a losing battle. He didn't pull any punches. He stated that his analysis is based on years of political experience, and that for him, Nigerian politics isn't "a tea party." He predicted Tinubu would secure over 12 million votes. He dismissed any notion of rigging being easy these days.
But Fayose's prediction isn't just about political calculations. He attributes his confidence to what he sees as improvements in Nigeria's economy under Tinubu's leadership. He argued that the President has managed to stabilize an economy that was in a dire state when it was handed over by the previous administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. He also pointed to what he described as improved road networks across the country. He acknowledged that some Nigerians might not share his optimistic view.
Adding another layer to his analysis, Fayose suggested that Tinubu represents the quickest path for power to return to the North. He explained that the current political understanding is for power to remain in the South for eight years. Then, Tinubu would pave the way for a Northern president. He believes any other Northern contender now would be wasting their time because, in his view, they'd have to wait their turn after Tinubu's tenure.