2027: Dele Momodu Sets Condition To Support Tinubu

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has said he would give President Bola Tinubu his full support in the 2027 presidential election if the administration remains committed to the democratic principles that were fought for during Nigeria’s military rule.

Momodu stated this during an interview on Arise TV on Thursday, August 20.

He stressed that his opposition to the Tinubu administration was driven by principle rather than personal animosity towards the President.

The veteran journalist and politician said his major concern was the possibility of Nigeria replacing military dictatorship with what he described as “civilian dictatorship.”

According to him, he would have no difficulty supporting Tinubu if the President governed in accordance with the democratic ideals they championed during the pro-democracy struggle.

“I will ordinarily swim to the depth of the Atlantic Ocean for Tinubu if he was practising what we fought against when we were fighting the military,” Momodu said.

“There is no earthly reason why I would not, but I would be a bloody hypocrite if after we claimed to have changed the way of military dictatorship, we now replace it with civilian dictatorship. That’s my only problem with him.”

Despite his criticism of the administration, Momodu said he continued to hold Tinubu in high regard, describing the President as one of the political figures who influenced his development and encouraged him to challenge established authority.

“Everything else, you see, when they are abusing him, you won’t see me abusing him.

“I have tremendous regards for him, and he was one of those who trained me and instilled this kind of discipline that, look, you can take on the establishment and win. And he did win,” he said.

Momodu also acknowledged Tinubu’s political record in Lagos, saying it contributed significantly to the President’s emergence as a major national political figure.

“And that is why that was the record he carried from Lagos as a local champion to a national champion,” he added.

The relationship between Momodu and Tinubu dates back to the pro-democracy struggle of the 1990s, when both were involved in opposition to military rule.

However, Momodu has in recent years become a vocal critic of the Tinubu administration and has aligned himself with opposition politics ahead of the 2027 elections.

His latest comments come days after he accused Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of being unsettled by the outcome of the recently concluded Osun State governorship election.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Momodu described the Osun election as a warning signal to the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He argued that Tinubu was the major loser in the election, while dismissing the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and former Osun governor, Gboyega Oyetola, as politicians who relied heavily on the President’s name during the campaign.

“Without any doubt whatsoever, he (Tinubu) lost. Who was Oyebamiji in the scheme of things? Who was Oyetola in the scheme of things?

“They were all name droppers, name dropping Tinubu everywhere,” Momodu said.

He also questioned why a political figure accused of making inflammatory comments during the election campaign could allegedly walk into and out of a police station without facing serious consequences.

Momodu further claimed that the APC was concerned that the Osun election could influence voters in other parts of the country ahead of the 2027 polls.

“And the reason I would tell you is the fear of January 2027, they are afraid that the Osun election will send a wrong signal to the electorates across Nigeria,” he said.

He added that the outcome of the election had demonstrated that voters could prioritise their preferred candidates over party affiliations or support for the President.