2027 Presidential race will be fierce battle — Dele Momodu warns Opposition

Media mogul and former presidential candidate, Dele Momodu, has issued a strong caution to politicians eyeing the 2027 presidential seat, saying they must brace up for a formidable challenge from President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, Momodu underscored the political influence Tinubu wielded even before assuming office, a force he believes is now further strengthened by Wike’s alliance.

“Tinubu, who is already president, even when he was not president, we faced a lot of fire,” Momodu said. “Now, when you have Tinubu and Wike on one side, then it means you have to be battle-ready; you have to assemble all your weapons and be ready for the battle ahead because 2027 is going to be like the World Cup, and you need your best players.”

PDP Governors Criticised Over Coalition Rejection

Momodu did not hold back in expressing his disappointment with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum for rejecting the proposed opposition coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. The coalition, which reportedly includes Atiku, former Labour Party candidate Peter Obi, and ex-Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, was aimed at uniting opposition forces against the APC in the 2027 elections.

According to Momodu, the governors’ refusal to join the coalition may inadvertently strengthen the ruling APC. He emphasized the need for a united front, saying: “Atiku cannot do it alone, Peter Obi cannot do it alone, Kwankwaso cannot do it alone. Whoever wants to run must find a way to pay the APC back in its own coin by uniting all possible forces.”

“A Bully Only Respects a Bully”

Drawing from political history, Momodu warned against fear and disunity in the opposition, noting that the only reason Lagos under Tinubu survived former President Obasanjo’s administration was due to its ability to stand firm and fight back.

“People must learn from history,” he said. “A bully only respects a bully. But all of us are already behaving like chicken. People panic because of Tinubu—‘Oh they are going to use EFCC, they are going to arrest me.’”

Call for Courage and Unity

He urged opposition politicians to resist pressure and remain committed to the cause of rescuing Nigeria from what he described as ineffective leadership.

“The thing is that we all like to read about Mandela in South Africa, we all read about the Mau Mau struggle, even in Nigeria, we had the nationalists who struggled for our independence—but everybody suddenly feels power can be offered to you on a platter,” Momodu lamented.

He warned those considering defection: “Any governor, senator, or House member who may be tempted to jump ship, may jump into the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.”

Momodu concluded with a firm appeal to opposition leaders to bury personal ambitions and egos and come together for the good of the country: “This thing is doable if they agree to work together.”