Joe Igbokwe, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has urged political figures nursing presidential ambitions for the 2027 elections to abandon their aspirations, asserting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will remain in power until 2031.
Through a Facebook post on January 7, 2025, Igbokwe addressed speculation that Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are strategizing to unseat Tinubu in the next election. He dismissed such moves, insisting that Tinubu’s presidency is divinely ordained to last eight years.
“Anyone dreaming of contesting the presidency in 2027 should drop that ambition. PBAT (President Bola Ahmed Tinubu) is destined to remain in power till 2031. He needs eight years to set the records straight,” Igbokwe wrote in his post.
The APC stalwart emphasized the need for Tinubu’s administration to complete two terms to solidify ongoing reforms and development initiatives. This statement aligns with recent political discourse, where party loyalists have called for continuity in governance to stabilize the country’s economic and political landscape.
Igbokwe’s remarks come amidst intensified political maneuvering as opposition parties weigh their options ahead of the next general elections. Tinubu, who took office on May 29, 2023, has faced significant criticism from opposition figures, but his supporters believe he remains the best choice to lead Nigeria through the decade.
While Igbokwe’s post has sparked reactions across social media, political observers note that the coming months will reveal how opposition parties and other stakeholders respond to this bold declaration.
