A Research Professor at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Prof. Femi Otubanjo, has said some governors supporting President Bola Tinubu may struggle to influence voters and deliver their states for the President in the 2027 presidential election.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS monitored by The News Chronicle, Otubanjo said the political strength of governors would vary from state to state, noting that while some had strong support among their constituents and the political machinery to mobilise voters, others might not be able to influence the choices of their people.
According to him, the political mood in the South-East, where there is a strong push for the region to produce the next president, could affect the ability of governors backing Tinubu to influence voters.
“The South-East is bent on producing the next president, and therefore they may not necessarily follow the governors who are basically all supporting Tinubu right now, including Soludo, who is a member of APGA,” he said.
On Rivers State, Otubanjo said he doubted the ability of the political structure backing Tinubu to deliver the state for the President in 2027.
He specifically criticised the role of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in the political calculations surrounding Rivers State, saying the former governor may have misled Tinubu.
He also dismissed claims that Rivers State would automatically support Tinubu based on the influence of political leaders in the state.
“I’m willing to make that prediction, in spite of Wike’s bravado about delivering Rivers. Rivers State is made up of rational, intelligent people, and they are going to make choices,” he said.
Otubanjo, however, said the influence of governors in the 2027 election should not be dismissed, stressing that some of them enjoyed significant support among their constituents.
“There are certain governors that their people are with them, and there are certain governors that you cannot predict whether they will be able to deliver their people,” he said.
