Ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election, a ruling party chieftain has dismissed fears of an opposition breakthrough in Nigeria's political landscape. Olusola Adeyeye, a former senator representing Osun Central, declared that President Bola Tinubu will retain his political stronghold, asserting that the incumbent will definitely not lose the strategic South-West region to any rival party. Adeyeye made these assertions during a high-stakes television interview on Sunday.
Adeyeye, the official South-West Coordinator of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, emphasized that the ruling APC is actively executing strategic frameworks to secure a resounding victory. He cautioned that complacency could prove fatal, adding that anyone from any party who thinks the next election will be easy for it is suffering self-delusion. Adeyeye remarked that the APC works very hard to win and will win big in the South-West region.
The APC chieftain insisted that the ruling party remains unbeatable in the South-West, provided internal cohesion is maintained. He noted that party unity remains the ultimate antidote to factional vulnerabilities. Adeyeye emphasized that if the APC stands as a united front, no opposition strategy can dismantle its structure in the region.
Adeyeye introduced a historical perspective, pointing out that a hypothetical loss in the home region does not doom a frontline presidential candidate. He cited the 1999 political trajectory of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to back his claim. Adeyeye argued that even if Tinubu loses the South-West, he can still win the presidency, just like Obasanjo did despite losing in his own region.
Shifting his focus to local politics, Adeyeye expressed absolute confidence that the APC would reclaim Osun State in 2027. He argued that the popularity enjoyed by Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party is merely a reflection of public affection for the Adeleke family name. Adeyeye added that the goodwill belongs to the family legacy, not necessarily the individual.
When questioned about whether the former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, now aligned with the African Democratic Congress, posed a threat to the APC, Adeyeye remained highly sceptical. He pointed closely to the minimal impact of the ADC during the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election. Adeyeye disclosed that Aregbesola's personal popularity may not be transferable to political proxies.
Adeyeye concluded that any political party that enters the upcoming election divided will ultimately lose. He emphasized that even Aregbesola must not deceive himself that he can automatically take the affection for him to another person. Adeyeye stated that if Aregbesola were a candidate, it would be a different matter, but as a proxy, his popularity may not translate to votes for another person or party.
Key points
- President Bola Tinubu will retain the South-West region in the 2027 presidential election.
- The APC remains unbeatable in the South-West due to internal cohesion.
- Adeyeye is confident that the APC will reclaim Osun State in 2027.
