LAGOS, Nigeria — Veteran journalist, publisher of Ovation magazine, and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain Dele Momodu has alleged that some state governors publicly supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 are privately hoping the president loses so they can free themselves from his control.
Momodu made the remarks in the context of his broader criticism of the growing wave of political support for the president among governors, many of whom defected from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking in a February 2026 interview on News Central Television, Momodu expressed bewilderment at the level of loyalty displayed by governors toward Tinubu. He said the governors were “fighting to ensure Tinubu wins a second term, fighting to be the biggest thug for him.”
“I don’t know what jazz they’ve used on them,” Momodu said. “What they all forget is that if a man in his first term can capture the bodies and the souls of Nigerians this way, what will he do when he has power for the second term and has no need for anybody?
“What will then happen is that you have a full-blown dictatorship and all the governors will now be at his mercy. They will regret it if he wins a second term as they’ll become total slaves to him.”
Momodu’s comments suggested that the governors’ public endorsements mask private fears of diminished autonomy under a second Tinubu administration. He framed a potential Tinubu defeat as the path for these governors to escape what he described as impending subjugation.
The remarks drew a sharp response from the APC Grassroots Governance Group (APC G3). In a statement in June 2026 signed by its National Coordinator, Amechi Chuks Oyema, the group dismissed Momodu’s claim that governors publicly supporting Tinubu are privately hoping he loses a second-term bid as “mere wishful thinking.”
APC G3 argued that the governors’ support stems from genuine conviction and appreciation of the administration’s policies, particularly those that have strengthened state finances and expanded development opportunities. The group insisted Momodu’s comments were disconnected from political realities and aimed at creating an impression of division where none exists.
Momodu’s warning comes amid a significant realignment in Nigerian politics. A large number of governors elected on opposition platforms have joined the APC, leaving only a handful of states under opposition control. Pro-Tinubu groups and APC leaders have repeatedly highlighted this consolidation as evidence of the president’s growing influence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The ADC chieftain has consistently raised concerns about the concentration of power, arguing that a second term for Tinubu could weaken institutional checks and balances. He has maintained that his criticisms are rooted in principle rather than personal animosity, noting his long-standing personal regard for the president dating back to their shared pro-democracy struggles.
As political alignments continue to shift and the 2027 presidential contest draws closer, Momodu’s assertion that some governors are quietly praying for Tinubu’s defeat underscores the underlying tensions within Nigeria’s evolving power structure. Whether these governors will ultimately deliver for the president—or whether private reservations will surface—remains a key question in the unfolding political drama. https://share.google/EISCWOHEzzMwvNGQc
https://share.google/EISCWOHEzzMwvNGQc
About the Author
