“Jonathan, Obi Can’t Defeat Tinubu” — Dele Momodu Urges Opposition to Play Ethnic Card

Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and Ovation magazine publisher, Dele Momodu, has called on opposition parties to unite and adopt what he described as “ethnic and religious strategies” if they intend to challenge President Bola Tinubu successfully in the 2027 presidential election.

In a statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Wednesday, Momodu reacted to the recent wave of defections from the PDP, including those of Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri’s resignation. He warned that the APC had effectively tightened its hold on Nigeria’s political landscape.

“Nigeria has comfortably, voluntarily, and predictably cruised, senselessly, into a one-party state. Both the executive and legislative arms finally crossed the Rubicon yesterday under the grip of the ruling party, APC,” he wrote.

Despite expressing concern about the shrinking space for political competition, Momodu said the opposition still had a viable path to relevance if it could quickly forge alliances and balance regional interests. He argued that Tinubu had already secured a strong political base in the South, and that the only chance for the opposition would be to consolidate support in the North through strategic coordination.

“The opposition has only one option left in order to be competitive since Tinubu has already locked down the South of Nigeria. Opposition must work speedily to lock down the North. With commonsense, this is feasible, even if difficult,” he stated.

Momodu dismissed the chances of any Southern candidate, including former President Goodluck Jonathan or Labour Party’s Peter Obi, defeating Tinubu if they contest independently. “I do not see any Southern candidate giving Tinubu any tough challenge. Not former President Jonathan. Not former Governor Peter Obi. If they run, looking more like independent candidates, they will fail spectacularly,” he said.

He urged opposition leaders to emulate the coalition-building approach that produced the APC in 2015, proposing that their most competitive ticket would feature a Northern Muslim presidential candidate and a Southern Christian running mate to counter Tinubu’s likely Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“If opposition is serious and determined to do whatever it takes, it must first unite and decide to play the ethnic and religious cards too. Opposition must pick a formidable Northern Muslim candidate with a very popular Southern Christian running mate,” he advised.

Momodu concluded by warning that time was running out for opposition forces to act decisively, emphasizing that “the game is not over” but would require candidates of “absolute necessity” to stand any real chance in 2027.