The apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has warned that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may face significant challenges in securing re-election in 2027 if his administration fails to tackle the deepening poverty, widespread hardship, and worsening insecurity across Nigeria.

 

In a statement issued on Thursday by its factional Deputy President-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Ohanaeze expressed concern that Nigerians are overwhelmed by their circumstances and are approaching a tipping point, which could manifest in electoral backlash against the current administration.

 

According to the group, urgent and effective measures are needed to address the core needs of the Nigerian people. It emphasized that the deteriorating conditions are not only undermining public trust but could also obstruct the efforts of all 36 state governors to secure re-election support for President Tinubu.

 

“The situation has become intolerable,” the statement read. “Many governors are misleading the public with illusions of support, mistakenly believing they can guarantee votes for the APC in 2027. This is a dangerous assumption.”

 

Ohanaeze further warned that northern governors may pose a more subtle yet serious political threat, as they could strategically undermine Tinubu’s ambitions. “They are skilled in political maneuvering, and the president must urgently address their growing discontent.”

 

The group criticized the failure of state governments to utilize increased federal allocations—reportedly gained from the removal of fuel subsidies—to alleviate the sufferings of ordinary Nigerians. It also condemned the continued disregard of the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy, blaming state governors for stifling grassroots development.

 

Ohanaeze cautioned that proposed tax reforms may face similar resistance if there isn’t a fundamental change in governance and policy direction. The group insisted that tackling hunger, insecurity, and economic hardship must be Tinubu’s top priorities moving forward.

 

“The false narratives pushed by state governors conceal the real crisis on the ground,” the statement continued. “The cost of living is skyrocketing, and basic necessities are now out of reach for many citizens.”

 

The group also warned that both northern and southern governors might become unreliable allies as the 2027 elections approach, with many focusing on self-preservation over loyalty to Tinubu.

 

To salvage the situation, Ohanaeze urged the president to take bold and revolutionary steps, including reducing electricity tariffs, restructuring his economic team, eliminating government waste, and heavily investing in agriculture and infrastructure.

 

Citing Burkina Faso’s transitional leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, as a model for youth empowerment and food security, Ohanaeze called on President Tinubu to replicate such initiatives in Nigeria.

 

“The current path is unsustainable,” the statement concluded. “Failure to act decisively now will render future political ambitions irrelevant.”