The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has cautioned that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may face serious challenges in his bid for re-election in 2027 if the deepening economic hardship, rising poverty, and worsening insecurity across the country are not urgently addressed.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the factional Deputy President-General of Ohanaeze, stressed the need for immediate and pragmatic solutions to the nation’s critical problems, warning that continued neglect may provoke mass resistance at the ballot box.
“The citizenry is not only overwhelmed by their circumstances but also at a precipice, risking a revolt against the current administration through the ballot box come 2027,” the statement read.
The group urged the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government to confront what it described as “intolerable levels” of economic deprivation and insecurity, which are eroding public confidence in leadership at all levels.
According to the statement, the current crises could severely impair the ability of the 36 state governors to deliver electoral support for President Tinubu in the next general election.
“Many of these Governors are peddling falsehoods and illusions of support, operating under the delusion that they can deliver their states for the APC in the upcoming elections—a perilous naiveté,” Ohanaeze warned.
The group also expressed concern about Northern Governors, suggesting that they may pose a more “duplicitous challenge” to Tinubu’s ambitions.
“They are adeptly playing a game that could ultimately undercut President Tinubu’s ambitions, and it is this faction that he must address most urgently,” the group noted.
Ohanaeze emphasized the need for Tinubu to seize what it called a historical opportunity to restore public faith through revolutionary policies aimed at alleviating poverty and hunger, curbing insecurity, and revitalizing the economy.
The group also pointed to failures in governance at the state level, particularly the misuse of increased federal allocations following fuel subsidy removal, and the undermining of the Supreme Court’s directive on local government autonomy.
“The introduction of new tax reforms will meet similar sabotage unless there is a profound change in leadership and policy direction,” the statement added.
Urging President Tinubu to refocus on policies that directly impact citizens’ lives, the group advised measures such as reducing electricity tariffs, revamping economic management teams, curbing government waste, and making strong investments in agriculture and infrastructure.
“The President would do well to emulate young leaders like Captain Toure of Burkina Faso who empower their youth with resources and incentives for agricultural advancement and food security,” Ohanaeze suggested.
The group concluded by warning that without decisive and immediate interventions, President Tinubu’s political future, including his 2027 re-election hopes, could be in serious jeopardy.
PUO Reports will continue to monitor political developments and public sentiment as Nigeria approaches the 2027 election cycle.
