2027 Election: Onaiyekan Warns Divided Opposition Could Hand Tinubu Victory

Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, has warned that opposition leaders could inadvertently pave the way for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 if they fail to unite behind a common candidate.

Although he admitted having a preferred candidate among the opposition figures seeking to challenge Tinubu, Onaiyekan said their inability to agree on a single alternative could undermine their chances at the polls.

He made the remarks during an interview on the Naija Unfiltered Podcast, calling on opposition leaders to set aside their personal ambitions and develop a united front capable of offering Nigerians a credible choice.

The cardinal also urged Nigerians to remain engaged in the democratic process, arguing that elections provide an opportunity for citizens to assess their leaders and demand accountability through their votes.

“Once in four years during the election, the people have the opportunity to assess their leaders. Their leaders, who are supposed to be also their representatives, not their bosses,” he said.

Onaiyekan encouraged voters unhappy with the government’s performance to exercise their democratic rights by using their voter cards to seek a change of leadership.

He cautioned against abandoning the electoral process because of doubts about its ability to produce change, adding that Nigeria was not ready to return to military rule.

For the cardinal, the central question ahead of the 2027 general election is whether opposition parties can provide Nigerians with a credible alternative to the incumbent government.

“We all know who the government is, but we don’t know what the alternative is,” he said.

He criticised opposition politicians who believe they can individually defeat Tinubu but have yet to agree on a common candidate, warning that their competing ambitions could divide votes and benefit the ruling party.

“Five people saying this government is not good, and each one says it’s me who will rule. They don’t know arithmetic,” Onaiyekan said.

He explained that when several candidates challenge one incumbent separately, the division of opposition votes could allow the incumbent to emerge victorious without necessarily commanding the support of a majority of those seeking change.

“If five of you are opposing one man, and you are telling all of us to scatter our votes among you, don’t you know that by simple arithmetic, the status quo will simply win by default?” he asked.

Addressing the possibility of an opposition coalition, Onaiyekan said political parties and their leaders needed to overcome their differences and work towards presenting a candidate who could mount a serious challenge to the ruling party.

“Whatever you call the names, these scattered voices should find a way of coming together to give us a viable alternative that we can vote for,” he said.

The cardinal reiterated that while he had his personal preference among the opposition figures, such preferences would have limited impact if the opposition remained fragmented.

“It’s not as if, among the so many of them, I don’t have my preference, but I’m not happy if I vote my preference. You vote your own, and they vote their own,” he said.

He maintained that opposition leaders must develop a shared vision for the country and agree on what should replace the current administration, rather than relying solely on their common desire to defeat the incumbent.

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