The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has warned President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) against becoming overconfident ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Ayodele, in a statement issued on Friday by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, predicted that the ruling party’s confidence in its electoral prospects could ultimately become its greatest weakness.
The cleric argued that relying on financial resources and political structures to secure Tinubu’s re-election would not guarantee victory, insisting that the hardship and insecurity confronting Nigerians could influence voters against the APC.
According to him, many Nigerians who are currently struggling with economic difficulties would reject the ruling party despite its perceived political strength.
“Overconfidence will kill APC; they will be too overconfident, and that will be the party’s weakness in the election. They will turn Tinubu to a demi-god, but it will make them lose the election.
“They believe money can do everything, but it will fail in the 2027 election,” Ayodele said.
He maintained that the APC could underestimate public anger over the prevailing economic and security challenges, warning that such miscalculation could cost the party heavily at the polls.
“Common men will kick against the overconfidence because hardship and insecurity have taught them a lesson. They won’t see where they are lacking and believe they can do everything with money, but it will fail,” he added.
Ayodele also dismissed the possibility that the Presidential Campaign Council could, on its own, reverse public sentiment towards Tinubu, saying the administration must first address the issues generating widespread discontent.
He urged the President to take immediate steps to improve the living conditions of Nigerians before the election, warning that failure to do so could result in massive rejection of the APC and its candidate.
“If President Tinubu thinks the presidential campaign council will change the minds of Nigerians towards him, it’s a pure lie. The people in the committee cannot do anything for the President; there is no individual that can change the mind of Nigerians,” the cleric stated.
“The people are going through so much hardship, and not solving the problem the administration created before the election will lead to serious rejection for the ruling party. It’s better Tinubu works to resolve it now or face the anger of Nigerians,” Primate Ayodele further added.
