Primate Elijah Ayodele, the leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has outlined a critical strategy for opposition parties aiming to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 presidential election. He asserts that a formidable coalition is essential for any chance of success against the incumbent leader.

In a statement released by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Primate Ayodele warned that without unity, the opposition would face significant challenges in defeating Tinubu, who he claims has already laid the groundwork for his re-election campaign. "Tinubu has prepared for a second term and has gone ahead of everyone. What they need to do now is form a coalition if they want to win this election. That’s the easy answer," he stated.

The cleric expressed concerns about potential tactics from Tinubu's camp to disrupt any opposition alliance. He suggested that the President might attempt to infiltrate the coalition with moles, thereby undermining its effectiveness. "There are two presidential candidates in the opposition that have been settled already to scatter the coalition," he alleged, highlighting the need for vigilance among opposition leaders.

Primate Ayodele also advised against forming a broad and unwieldy alliance that includes every political faction. Instead, he recommended that the opposition should focus on uniting around four or five parties that share similar political ideologies and have clearly defined manifestos. He stressed, "It will not be every party coalition; they should join the best parties together and form a strong coalition. Only about four or five parties together, and they must understand their manifesto."

The cleric emphasized that a focused and coordinated strategy is crucial for the opposition to mount a serious challenge to Tinubu. He cautioned that underestimating the President could lead to disastrous results for those seeking to replace him. "They don’t need much talk to win Tinubu; they only need a few things, but if they want to take him for granted, Tinubu will render them useless. Only like minds can remove Tinubu," he concluded.

As the political landscape evolves in Nigeria, the call for unity among opposition parties becomes increasingly urgent as they prepare for the 2027 elections. The effectiveness of their strategy will likely play a pivotal role in determining the outcome of the presidential race.