President Bola Tinubu has been warned against treating political defections and public endorsements as proof of growing electoral support, with Primate Elijah Ayodele questioning whether some new allies will strengthen the president’s re-election bid.
The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church gave the warning in a statement issued through his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin. He alleged that some people within the president’s circle were not genuinely committed to his success and could turn against him ahead of the election.
Ayodele pointed to the inauguration of the APC presidential council, claiming that some participants were more interested in the celebrations than in supporting the president’s political ambitions. He questioned the sincerity of statements made at the event, although he did not provide evidence to substantiate the allegations.
The cleric also cautioned against celebrating the movement of politicians into the All Progressives Congress, arguing that the defections could become a burden rather than an advantage for Tinubu’s re-election campaign. His comments raise questions about whether an increase in political allies will translate into stronger voter support.
Ayodele further alleged that some people around the president could prevent him from receiving honest advice and push capable supporters away to protect their own interests. He urged Tinubu to assess the loyalty and intentions of those seeking influence within his political circle.
He also warned that the president could discover weaknesses in his support network only weeks before the election if he failed to act early. Ayodele specifically highlighted the North, claiming that Tinubu’s campaign team still had significant work to do to secure support in the region.
The claims remain Ayodele’s political assessment and were not independently substantiated in the statement. Neither a response from the Presidency nor a reaction from the APC was included. The warning places the focus on a key distinction in election campaigns: political endorsements and defections may attract attention, but their actual value depends on whether they translate into voter confidence and support at the polls.
