Dele Momodu Claims Tinubu Wants Uncontested 2027 Race, Says Buhari Played Key Role in His Presidency

A former presidential candidate and publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu, has alleged that Nigeria’s current president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, appears determined to weaken the opposition ahead of the next general election so that he effectively contests against himself.

Momodu made the remarks during an appearance on the political programme Sunday Politics aired on Channels Television, where he also argued that Tinubu’s emergence as president in 2023 would have been difficult without the political circumstances created by the administration of former president Muhammadu Buhari.

According to Momodu, a healthy democracy requires a vibrant opposition and multiple credible candidates, rather than a political environment where the incumbent dominates the political landscape without meaningful challenge.

He suggested that recent developments in Nigeria’s political arena indicate that Tinubu may be consolidating power in a way that discourages strong opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.

“You can imagine how much Tinubu can generate from Lagos State alone, not to talk of the national level,” Momodu said during the programme. “When you have an absolute ruler, everything becomes available to him.”

Momodu also emphasized that his current political alignment with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar reflects his belief that Nigeria needs a strong opposition bloc capable of presenting alternative ideas and policies to voters.

“If I’m with Atiku, it shows that there are still people who genuinely care about the country,” he said. “There must be opposition politics. There must be opposition candidates.”

He argued that without credible challengers, elections risk becoming symbolic exercises rather than genuine contests of ideas and leadership.

Momodu further accused supporters of the current administration of circulating misleading data and narratives aimed at presenting the government in a favorable light while downplaying criticism.

“You can see all these rabble-rousing they are doing up and down, giving fake statistics here and there,” he said.

Reflecting on the political events that preceded the 2023 election, Momodu also claimed that Buhari’s role in the transition of power ultimately created the conditions that made Tinubu’s presidency possible.

“Buhari handed over to Tinubu, but without Buhari it would have been impossible for Tinubu to become president,” Momodu stated.

His remarks have already sparked debate among political observers and supporters of the ruling party.

Some analysts argue that Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election was largely the result of his longstanding political influence, particularly in southwestern Nigeria, as well as his role in building the ruling All Progressives Congress into a dominant national party.

Others, however, believe the political machinery of the Buhari administration, along with internal party negotiations and alliances, played a significant role in shaping the outcome of the election.

Momodu’s comments also come at a time when Nigeria’s political parties are beginning to reposition themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections. Discussions about possible alliances, party defections, and emerging candidates have gradually intensified within the country’s political landscape.

Despite the criticisms, supporters of President Tinubu insist that the administration remains focused on governance and economic reforms rather than early campaign politics.

They maintain that any claims about an attempt to eliminate opposition candidates are unfounded and politically motivated.

For now, Momodu’s statements have added another layer to Nigeria’s ongoing political debate, highlighting the tensions that often emerge as the country moves closer to another election cycle.

With more than a year remaining before the next presidential race begins to fully take shape, political observers expect further exchanges among politicians, analysts, and party leaders as Nigeria’s democratic process continues to evolve.