Primate Elijah Ayodele, Leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Nigeria that public grievances could become a major threat to his 2027 re-election bid if his administration fails to address Nigerians’ concerns.

In a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, the cleric said Nigerians could use the 2027 election to express their dissatisfaction with the government, while cautioning the President against assuming that his political support base would automatically translate into victory.

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Ayodele argued that some people around the President were presenting an overly positive picture of the administration while allegedly pursuing their own interests.

“Tinubu is very desperate; he has not done what Nigerians want, and people surrounding him are deceiving him. They only want to eat his money,” Ayodele said.

The cleric further warned that disgruntled politicians who fail to secure tickets within the ruling All Progressives Congress could eventually work against Tinubu during the election.

“Most of the people who dropped from the party will work against Tinubu’s victory, and he can lose the election if he isn’t careful,” he said.

Ayodele also pointed to the opposition coalition involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other political figures as a potential challenge to the President.

“The coalition of Atiku and others can take Tinubu out of office, regardless of those he has with him,” he said.

His comments come as Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 presidential election, with the Independent National Electoral Commission having formally commenced the electoral process.

INEC’s published timetable currently lists February 20, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, although another page on the commission’s website displays different dates, highlighting the importance of relying on its formal timetable and subsequent official updates.

The political environment is already becoming increasingly competitive, with opposition figures seeking ways to consolidate their support behind a formidable alternative to the ruling APC.

Earlier in 2026, Ayodele himself said a united opposition alliance could seriously challenge Tinubu, although he warned that divisions and betrayal could eventually undermine such an arrangement.

The opposition landscape has since continued to evolve.

Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso have moved into the Nigeria Democratic Congress, while disagreements over presidential zoning and the preferred candidate have complicated efforts to maintain a united opposition front.

Ayodele’s latest warning also comes against the backdrop of continuing economic pressure on households.

While the World Bank says Nigeria has made progress towards macroeconomic stability following major reforms, it notes that household incomes have not fully recovered and poverty remains widespread.

The International Monetary Fund similarly reported in June that conditions remained difficult for many Nigerians, estimating that poverty had reached 63 per cent at the national poverty line and that 27 million Nigerians had experienced food insecurity in late 2025.

Tinubu has consistently defended his economic programme, arguing that reforms introduced since 2023 are laying the foundation for stronger growth and improved public finances.

In May, the President said the reforms were stabilising the economy and improving investor confidence, while acknowledging the hardship many Nigerians continue to face.

The administration has also continued to pursue investment and economic measures.

Most recently, Tinubu approved a new deep-water oil and gas framework intended to attract potentially up to $50 billion in investment, part of efforts to revive major offshore projects and strengthen the energy sector.

Ayodele, however, urged the President not to rely on political calculations or alleged plans to manipulate the electoral process.

“All the plans to rig will be resisted by Nigerians, and mind you, the election is going to be tough. Don’t expect it to be free and fair,” he said.

He added that Nigerians would demonstrate their feelings at the polls if the APC failed to respond to their concerns.

“People will show that they are desperate, and people will show they don’t want APC.

The party needs to pacify Nigerians; otherwise, all the magic will not work,” Ayodele said.

The warning reflects a broader political reality facing the President.

With the 2027 contest approaching, economic performance, public confidence, opposition unity and internal party discipline are likely to shape the electoral battle.

For Tinubu, the immediate challenge will be translating the government’s reported macroeconomic improvements into tangible improvements in household welfare while maintaining political cohesion within the APC.

For the opposition, the challenge will be turning public dissatisfaction into a coherent electoral alternative capable of competing across Nigeria’s diverse political landscape.

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Ayodele’s prediction remains a political and religious prophecy rather than an established electoral outcome. Ultimately, the 2027 result will be determined by voters and the conduct of the electoral process.