By Ade Oyeyemi
The Chairman of the PBAT Mandate Elders Forum in Ondo State, Demola Ijabiyi, has dismissed the possibility of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi defeating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, even if they form an alliance.
Ijabiyi spoke on Wednesday during the September meeting of the forum in Akure, Ondo State, while reacting to Atiku’s recent call for Nigerians to vote out the Tinubu administration in the next general election.
Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, had on September 24, 2026, urged Nigerians in Akure to reject the Tinubu administration in 2027, citing economic hardship and insecurity.
However, Ijabiyi said the APC and its supporters remained confident in Tinubu’s bid for another term, arguing that a possible alliance between Atiku and Obi would not alter the contest.
“Tinubu is going on and marching confidently towards 2031. Nothing can change that,” he said.
The APC elder maintained that even if Atiku and Obi succeeded in presenting a common presidential candidate, they would still be unable to defeat Tinubu.
“Atiku and Obi, even if they combine, they can’t win Tinubu.
“They said they want to combine and field a single candidate. Even if they field a single candidate, which is impossible, they will fail woefully,” he said.
Ijabiyi argued that Tinubu secured victory in the 2023 presidential election while outside government and facing several opposition forces, adding that the President would now approach the 2027 contest as an incumbent.
“You see, Tinubu was not in power when he won; every force was against him. Now Tinubu is in power. So what are we saying?” he asked.
The Ondo APC chieftain also questioned the opposition’s electoral strength, asking whether Atiku could secure substantial support in Ondo State and other parts of the country.
He said the APC had continued to maintain a significant political structure, while opposition parties were also working to strengthen their organisations ahead of the 2027 elections.
Ijabiyi dismissed claims that Nigerians had rejected the APC, saying electoral results should be considered when assessing the party’s support.
“They said that people have rejected us, but they keep voting for us. They keep voting for APC. So why is the rejection?” he asked.
On Atiku’s call for Tinubu to leave office in 2027, Ijabiyi said the former vice-president’s statement should be viewed within the context of the forthcoming presidential election.
“So, if Atiku says Tinubu is going, the only way that I know that Tinubu is going now is 2031,” he said.
The forum chairman subsequently urged APC members and supporters in Ondo State to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 election.
He said the forum would continue to promote the Tinubu administration and mobilise support for the President’s re-election bid.
Ijabiyi also appealed to APC leaders in Ondo State to avoid actions capable of deepening divisions, particularly between Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
He described Aiyedatiwa as the leader of the APC in the state while acknowledging Tunji-Ojo’s influence among party supporters and residents.
According to him, the existence of different political structures within the party should not automatically be interpreted as division if they remain focused on a common objective.
“There may be different routes, but there must be only one destination: the overwhelming re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
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Ijabiyi urged supporters of the governor and the minister to exercise restraint and avoid comments or actions that could create tension within the party.
He said the elders’ forum would remain focused on its stated objective of mobilising support for Tinubu rather than taking sides in any political contest between the two Ondo leaders.
