Nigeria: Tinubu Will Be 'Beaten Woefully' in 2027 - Ex-Minister

What the report says

Former Nigerian youth and sports minister Solomon Dalung, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, said President Bola Tinubu could face a heavy defeat in the 2027 presidential election if current political conditions persist. Premium Times, republished by AllAfrica, reported that Dalung linked Tinubu’s 2023 victory to northern support associated with former President Muhammadu Buhari and argued that this backing has weakened. He suggested that hardships and dissatisfaction in the North could sharply reduce Tinubu’s vote total compared with 2023.

Dalung, now with the African Democratic Congress, said governance failures and economic pressure have made the administration a liability for the ruling party. He also pointed to the APC’s loss in the 15 August Osun governorship election as evidence that incumbency and campaign spending may not guarantee success in 2027. His comments were framed as part of a wider discussion about opposition prospects and voter anger ahead of the next presidential contest.

The former minister also said Buhari’s death had changed the political landscape and claimed Tinubu had not effectively inherited the late president’s influence in the North. He backed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers governor Rotimi Amaechi as an opposition team he considered experienced enough to lead. More broadly, the piece reflects ongoing maneuvering among opposition figures and uncertainty over how Nigeria’s main parties will align before the 2027 election.