Primate Elijah Ayodele Warns President Tinubu of Widespread Northern Opposition Ahead of 2027 Re-election Bid

Prophet Elijah Ayodele warns President Tinubu that Northern Nigeria remains opposed to a second term, urging engagement with Emirs and political leaders.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 24, 2026, 7:08 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Independent Newspaper Nigeria

Religious Leader Cautions Presidency on Northern Discontent

The Leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has issued a public warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu regarding his standing in Northern Nigeria. In a statement released through his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, the cleric asserted that the President must initiate serious efforts to regain acceptance in the region. According to Ayodele, the northern part of the country has not yet aligned with the President’s 2027 second,term goals, primarily because the administration has failed to utilize capable hands to manage the region,s complex political landscape.

Allegations of Deception Within the Inner Circle

Primate Ayodele stated that many advisors are currently deceiving the President regarding the true sentiments of northern voters. He advised the administration to ignore optimistic reports and instead face the harsh realities on the ground. The prophet made it known that unless the President works directly with established leaders in the north, they will likely rise as a unified front against his ambition. This lack of genuine coordination, the cleric warned, could lead to increased political crises as the next election cycle approaches.

Strategic Shortcomings of Current Support Movements

According to the cleric, popular support structures like the City Boy movement and personal efforts by family members are likely to fail in the northern context. Specifically, Ayodele explained that Seyi Tinubu cannot provide the level of influence required to secure the region for the President. He emphasized that these localized movements will not have a significant impact because the northern electorate responds to different types of authority. The prophet called on the President to take personal charge of these diplomatic efforts rather than delegating them to ineffective surrogates.