…..Inaugurates Local Govt Coordinators of PNT.
The Director-General of a support group, the Progressives Network for Tinubu (PNT) in Ondo state, Pastor Olumide Obadele, on Tuesday, advised former President Goodluck Jonathan against joining the 2027 presidential race to prevent unnecessary electoral defeat that will humiliate him.
The support group leader also rubbished insinuation that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is jittery over the speculated return of Jonathan to the 2027 presidential race, describing such claims as baseless.
Obadele stated this in Akure, the state capital during a strategic meeting of the group and the inauguration of the local government coordinators in the state.
He noted that APC has no cause to panic, insisting that Jonathan’s rumored ambition was both unconstitutional and politically ill-advised.
Obadele said “APC is not jittery about Jonathan, and I can tell you that Jonathan will not run at the end of the day. The Constitution of Nigeria is clear about it, and there’s no point twisting it. If he wants to remain a true elder statesman, he should stay away from that attempt because it will only end in embarrassment.
“I know some people are challenging him in court, and I think if he wants to be a true elder statesman, he should just stay away from that attempt, because I think at the end of the day, he’s going to be embarrassed and rubbished. So, I think he will not run at the end of the day; that’s my strong belief.
He maintained that even if Jonathan decided to contest, the move would not pose any threat to the APC’s dominance, and said, “If he runs, they are going to rubbish him. I don’t even know under which party, is it PDP or ADC?
“I tell you, all these opposition parties are in the ICU center, they are on life support. I do not think any party here in Nigeria today can just come up and say it wants to run with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. For me, 2027 is a done deal”
Reacting to comparisons with the surprise performance of Peter Obi in the 2023 general election, he noted that the political dynamics have shifted.
He said, “Obi’s case was different. In 2023, our Igbo brothers mobilized massively for him. But now, both Obi and Atiku don’t even know the parties they’ll run under, and by INEC’s timetable, parties must have presidential candidates in about eight months. That means they’ve technically handed it over to the APC,” he explained.
Speaking on the group’s ongoing mobilization efforts by the support group, Obadele said the group is working to increase voter participation, especially among the elites who often stay away on election day.
“We are creating awareness and enlightening people, especially in Ondo State, where voter apathy is high. Only about 28.6% voted in the last election , that’s poor. We want the remaining 70% to come out. We’re reaching out to individuals, groups, and institutions to support Asiwaju,” he said.
He revealed that discussions were ongoing with two major political parties and that one of them was on the verge of defecting to the APC.
“A major party will soon defect to the APC and work with us under PNT. Another is already in talks with us. We’re bringing parties and organizations together for Asiwaju, and I’m confident the results will speak for themselves,” he concluded.
We need to come out and give him support. So, we are reaching out to people, groups, individuals, and organizations. As I speak to you now, let me just let you know, a major party will be defecting to APC any moment from now, and they have made up their minds to work with us here in the PNT.
“There is another party again that is in the pipeline; we are talking, discussions are ongoing. So, we are bringing parties, institutions, and organizations to join us in the PNT to vote for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. And I strongly believe that we’re going to have the result at the end of the day.
Also speaking, a one of the leaders of APC Elders’ Movement in the state, Otunba Agboola Kelly, commended the Minister of Interior, Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, for his steadfast support and commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He described Tunji-Ojo as a “God-given and illustrious son” of Ondo State, whose efforts have significantly boosted the activities of pro-Tinubu groups across the state.
According to him, Tunji-Ojo’s contributions have particularly strengthened the Ondo State APC Elders’ Movement for Tinubu 2027, which continues to expand in membership and influence.
