Fayose: Obi Lost 2027 Chances After Leaving ADC for NDC

Fayose: Obi Lost 2027 Chances After Leaving ADC for NDC.

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has said Peter Obi weakened his chances of winning the 2027 presidential election when he left the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

Fayose made the remarks on Tuesday during an interview on TVC News’ Politics Tonight, while assessing the prospects of opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, Obi’s departure, alongside that of other opposition politicians, weakened the possibility of the opposition presenting a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“When they were all together in ADC, I would tell anybody that they will make an impact. The day Obi left ADC for NDC, that day Obi lost,” Fayose said.

Despite his criticism, Fayose described Obi as “a fantastic Nigerian who has made his marks, who has shown that things can get better.”

He, however, maintained that the opposition’s inability to remain united would continue to undermine its chances at the polls.

“But when opposition, when they don’t come together, they will continue to lose,” he said.

Fayose further argued that it was now too late for the opposition to reverse its political decisions, saying the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had already accredited the candidates.

“It’s too late now,” he said. “INEC has accredited everybody. Even if you say you are not doing again, you’re on your own.”

“You have put your feet in the water. You can’t get out. You have gotten wet already,” he added.

Fayose Predicts Tinubu’s 2027 Victory

On President Bola Tinubu’s chances in the 2027 presidential election, Fayose said the political arithmetic in the South-West currently favoured the President.

He cited the support of prominent political leaders in the region and projected that Tinubu could secure about four million votes from the South-West, based on the voting pattern recorded during the 2023 presidential election.

“In the West alone, Tinubu will get close to about four million votes,” Fayose said.

“When you look at the pattern of the last election, Tinubu will win this election close to about 65 per cent,” he added.

Fayose Criticises Vote-Buying in Osun

Fayose also criticised attempts to attribute alleged vote-buying during the recent Osun State governorship election to only one political camp.

According to him, supporters of the APC, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Accord Party were all implicated in alleged vote-buying during the election.

“It’s mere desperation. Mere desperation,” he said.

He added: “The two sides clearly, going by what we saw on the television on Saturday, police arrested the two sides sharing money. So don’t come and tell me they are saints both ways.”

The former governor said electoral malpractice was a systemic problem that required collective responsibility from politicians and voters.

“We have a lot to put right,” Fayose said.

“It’s the system. It’s systemic. It is a problem that has to be addressed,” he added.