The Ondo Mandate Elders Forum has issued a strong declaration that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains the only viable option for Nigeria in the 2027 presidential election, warning that any move to replace him with opposition candidates would reverse the country’s progress. The influential political group, made up of elder statesmen and leaders from Ondo State, resolved after a meeting at the residence of its chairman, former Commissioner for Works, Chief Erastus Akeju, in Akure.
Addressing journalists after the gathering, the forum’s facilitator, Chief Ademola Ijabiyi, dismissed speculation about Tinubu’s chances of re-election, insisting that the President faces no serious competition. According to him, the opposition remains uncoordinated and without a clear policy direction, while Tinubu continues to deliver on promises that required political courage. He noted that Tinubu’s reforms, including fuel subsidy removal, foreign exchange unification, and tax restructuring, were landmark decisions that no rival could credibly reverse without setting the nation back.
Ijabiyi maintained that arguments against the administration’s policies lack substance, explaining that Tinubu had embarked on corrective measures akin to a surgical procedure for the economy. He admitted that Nigerians are currently experiencing hardship but described it as short-term pain for long-term stability. In his words, “There are always pains accompanying surgery. Without removing fuel subsidy and reviving foreign exchange, Nigeria would have been in a worse mess. These pains are temporary, and the outcome will be sustainable growth.”
The forum categorically dismissed opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party candidate Peter Obi, as incapable of mounting a credible challenge, describing them as still entangled in internal disputes without clear programs. They also ruled out a return of former President Goodluck Jonathan, citing constitutional limitations.
Beyond commentary, the group outlined its practical commitment to Tinubu’s second-term bid. The forum vowed to mobilize at least one million votes from Ondo State, leveraging its network of elders across local governments. Chief Ebenezer Alabi, the forum’s secretary, revealed that Ondo delivered one of the highest voting percentages for Tinubu in the 2023 election and assured that the 2027 turnout would surpass it. He emphasized that grassroots mobilization, voter registration drives, and community-based campaigns would be intensified, adding that all Tinubu support groups in the state were united in purpose.
The meeting drew notable political leaders, including Senator Yele Omogunwa, Otunba Solomon Oladunni, Pastor Femi Agagu, Chief Mrs. Grace Animola, Chief Dr. Kola Ademujimi, and Princess Dr. Adebunmi Osadahunsi, among several others. They collectively expressed confidence that Tinubu’s leadership remains unmatched and pledged to stand firmly behind his re-election bid.
With the forum’s position now made public, it signals the beginning of an aggressive political mobilization from Ondo State, one of the key battlegrounds in the South West. Their message was clear: any attempt to vote Tinubu out in 2027 would not only derail reforms already underway but also risk dragging Nigeria into deeper political and economic uncertainty.
