With the political marathon for the 2027 presidential election already turning into a sprint, and political parties now restrategising to outfox one another, five standout men can make a difference for Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in three year’s time.
They are the immediate past Governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, former president Olusegun Obasanjo, the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, the new Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, as well as a former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole.
And what better time for Tinubu to have all of them in his camp – if he could – than now.
The president does not have an overly awesome relationship with Obasanjo, for instance, and he might now need to strengthen the one he has with Sanusi.
As things stand, opposition politicians, Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party, and Peter Obi, the candidate of the Labour Party in last year’s presidential election, have already held a meeting, which is earmarked to be the launching pad for the alliance they intend to unleash on the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The two politicians may have decided to work together after they embraced the uncomfortable truth that they would both be beaten in a future election if they chose to go solo at the polls.
And though TInubu’s party, the APC, has tried to dismiss the planned alliance by insisting that Tinubu is not bothered about it, it is actually the men the president will have on the ground that will make all the difference.
Last week, Atiku said he will keep contesting for Nigeria’s oval seat till his health allows him.
He also stated that he was inspired by the story of former American President, Abraham Lincoln, who contested many times before he could become the occupant of the White House.
“Of course, I will keep contesting again and again as long as I am alive and healthy,” Atiku said during an interview on the Hausa service of the Voice of America in Abuja.
The 77-year-old was the PDP presidential candidate during the 2019 and 2023 presidential elections.
He lost to former President Muhammadu Buhari and incumbent President Bola Tinubu in 2019 and 2023 respectively.
Atiku, who served as vice president to former president Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007, will be 81 during the next presidential election in 2027.
“To have Obasanjo supporting Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election will be a daunting prospect, but those hopeful about it have shown unwavering faith, believing that Tinubu’s first term in office will open permanent doors of reconciliation between the two great Yoruba sons”
Despite the age factor, the former vice president said he would “keep contesting” for the number one seat till his health permits.
“Even the former US President Abraham Lincoln contested seven times before finally winning.
“However, given the current state of the PDP, it is clear that a single-handed effort will not suffice to win the election. Strong support and collaboration with other parties are required,” he said.
Nyesom Wike
Wike is a political gladiator. What he can bring to the table for Tinubu in an election will no doubt help the Commander-in-Chief to stake his claim successfully on the presidency.
Wike is a member of the PDP –as he wants Nigerians to believe – but he may have irreversibly warmed himself to the president’s heart after he helped the APC beat Atiku and Obi in Rivers State.
Though Wike has been embroiled in a supremacy battle with his former mentee and now Governor of Rivers State, Sim Fubara, and a “mistake” that he promised to correct, he has somehow managed to stay afloat in the intricacies of Abuja politics.
As a Minister, some Nigerians have called for his sack, but it seems Tinubu will likely not be doing that anytime soon, and this is because the former Governor of Lagos State, who might find it difficult winning any of the South South states, will want to look to Wike’s influence to take Rivers State.
Recently, a solidarity rally was organised for Tinubu in Rivers State and the APC Caretaker Committee Chairman in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, used it to urge Wike to join the APC.
Okocha also said Wike was a political strategist that could not be ignored in Rivers State politics.
Olusegun Obasanjo
Obasanjo is the encapsulation of everything a statesman should be. His patriotism for Nigeria is one of a kind and because of it; Nigerians are always interested to hear what he will say about burning national issues.
Obasanjo is among the few politicians who has never changed or decamped from his political party. He has been with the People’s Democratic Party since its formation in 1998.
To have Obasanjo supporting Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election will be a daunting prospect, but those hopeful about it have shown unwavering faith, believing that Tinubu’s first term in office will open permanent doors of reconciliation between the two great Yoruba sons.
When the fourth Republic was launched in 1999, and Obasanjo and Tinubu became President of Nigeria and the Governor of Lagos State, respectively, there was bad blood between them.
Tinubu allegedly accused Obasanjo of withholding local government funds, which belonged to Lagos State. Tinubu had also said that Obasanjo was jealous of his achievements after the former endorsed Obi for president in 2923.
Their differences, however, many of Tinubu’s supporters agree that a thumbs up by Obasanjo for Tinubu will unite the South West people the most and make the region the envy of other regions.
Hope Uzodimma
The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, may be referred to as “the Supreme Court,” but his presence in the South East has given the APC and Tinubu a lifeline there.
The Igbo speaking part of Nigeria have traditionally been a stronghold of the PDP who usually make a clean sweep of governorship seats in the region, with the All Progressive Grand Alliance sometimes grabbing a seat, but Uzodimma’s emergence has punctured that expectation.
After the Supreme Court on January 14, 2020 declared him winner of the 2019 governorship poll in Imo State, nullifying the election of the then incumbent governor Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP, the APC’s inroads into the region seem unstoppable.
In the last presidential election, the APC beat the PDP, something more like an anathema. And even though Obi’s Labour Party was the runaway winner, the thinking in the state is that the APC will up their game under Uzodimma’s guidance.
Two months ago, in a bid to consolidate its base ahead of the 2027 general election, the national chairman of the APC, Abdulahi Ganduje, inaugurated six governors to coordinate the party’s activities in all the country’s geo-political zones, and as expected, Uzodimma was one of the governors.
Lamido Sanusi
Sanusi is an important supporter of president Tinubu.
His reinstatement as Emir of Kano was put on hold last week after a Federal High Court in Kano mandated the Kano State government not to enforce the Kano State Emirate Council Repeal Law.
He was reinstated as the Emir of Kano last week by the Governor of Kano state, Abba Yusuf, after the immediate past governor of the state and current national chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, orchestrated his dethronement back in 2020.
Sanusi is known to be a proponent of the policies of the current administration, especially the vexatious policy of petrol subsidy removal.
At the Rivers State Economic and Investment Summit 2024, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, Sanusi said that it was not possible for Tinubu to fix the country in one year and that the current government’s policies were necessary.
“The mismanagement of the last 10 years will not be undone in six months or one year.
“We need to understand that some of the difficult things will take time to work through the economy.
“It will take a little while for us to see a turnaround, but those decisions are absolutely necessary for us to save the economy,” he had said during the summit.
Knowing that Kano is the state with the highest population in Nigeria and that the chairman of the APC, Ganduje’s popularity has been waning in the state, Tinubu will surely appreciate Sanusi’s star power to gather votes in the North for his election in 2027.
Adams Oshiomhole
The bubbly former Governor of Edo State is a dependable ally and friend of Tinubu and will work wonders for him in Edo State and the South South region.
Oshiomhole is currently in the National Assembly where he is representing Edo North in the Senate.
When Oshiomhole clocked 72 years old on April 4, he was feted by Tinubu.
“Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is of strong character. He is ever so committed to his principles, unbending and fearless in the pursuit of a just cause.
“He is a man you can take to battle and be sure of victory. He is fiercely loyal and stands firmly by what he believes in,” the President said glowingly of Oshiomhole.
As the opposition look to face the APC with a formidable challenge in 2027, Tinubu will need a “fierce” warrior like Oshiomhole who will be loyal to him. The wisdom of the former Labour leader might come in handy, too.
