2027: Ex-Obi campaign chief Ebiseni backs Tinubu

AKURE — The Secretary-General of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Chief Sola Ebiseni, has resigned his position and joined the All Progressives Congress, APC, declaring support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

Ebiseni, who served as the South-West Coordinator of the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Council in the 2023 general election, announced his decision during a meeting with Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in Akure.

He said he and his supporters were ready to support Tinubu’s second-term bid, arguing that retaining the presidency in the South would promote political stability and allow the administration to consolidate its policies.

Ebiseni said his decision was based on what he described as the prevailing view that the presidency should remain in southern Nigeria.

“For the avoidance of doubt, our declaration for the President’s second term is in tandem with the views of most Nigerians that the presidency should remain in southern Nigeria,” he said.

He argued that although Tinubu was not the only southerner seeking the presidency, his administration had already initiated policies that could be consolidated in a second term.

Ebiseni also expressed concern that a change of government could result in the reversal of some reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy.

“All the frontline presidential candidates promised subsidy removal in 2023. Retaining it would have spelt doom, especially for states which were already struggling to meet their obligations,” he said.

The former commissioner said Tinubu deserved another four years for what he described as the full benefits of his economic and security reforms to materialise.

He cited the proposed state police and expansion of Nigerian Army divisions from eight to 12 as initiatives that, in his view, required continuity.

Ebiseni also identified the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as a major reason for his support for the Tinubu administration, particularly its potential impact on coastal communities in Ondo State.

“Politics is local. As a leader of my Ilaje coastal people, this road is the most significant project for us. I am joining President Tinubu to ensure its full implementation with proper coastal alignment in Ondo State,” he said.

“To whom much is given, much is expected in terms of support for his re-election.”

Responding, Aiyedatiwa assured Ebiseni and his supporters of their integration into the APC campaign structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The governor said Ebiseni’s political experience as a former chairman of the old Ilaje-Ese-Odo Local Government, former commissioner and former Afenifere secretary-general would add value to the party’s mobilisation efforts.

“We know you as one of our leaders. Your political reach and roles in Afenifere and other socio-cultural organisations will be an added advantage,” Aiyedatiwa said.

The governor noted that the presence of the APC State Chairman, Babatunde Kolawole, at the meeting demonstrated the party’s readiness to accommodate the new entrants.

In an interview, Ebiseni said his decision to support Tinubu’s second term was “in the interest of the country.”

He said he was only the “forerunner” of a wider group of Nigerians who, according to him, had been consulting across the six geopolitical zones over the past year.

“I can assure you that I am just the forerunner for a group of Nigerians who have quietly moved across the six geopolitical zones in the last one year,” he said.

He added that the group had also engaged political actors as part of its consultations, saying details of its findings would be made public.

Ebiseni further said national security was another consideration behind his support for Tinubu, arguing that continuity in the current security architecture was preferable to introducing a new approach.

“Above all, particularly in the area of security, it is in the national interest to support the current Commander-in-Chief and build on his new salutary security architecture, rather than experimenting a new architect and design,” he said.