Tinubu Vows to Retain Power in 2027 Amid Opposition Criticism

President Bola Tinubu has declared that he will not surrender governance to opposition parties in the 2027 elections, regardless of their campaign strategies.

Speaking at a meeting of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors in Abuja, led by Hope Uzodimma, Tinubu said he remains unfazed by criticisms, insisting that those presenting themselves as alternatives have previously failed Nigerians.

Although he did not mention names, his remarks appeared directed at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is now a leading figure in the African Democratic Congress and a potential contender in the 2027 election.

Atiku, who served under Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007, chaired Nigeria’s privatisation council during a period of major economic reforms.

The privatisation programme, implemented through the Bureau of Public Enterprises, aimed to reduce government control, attract private investment, and improve efficiency across key sectors including telecommunications, banking, energy, and manufacturing. Several state-owned enterprises, including Nigerian Telecommunications Limited and the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria, were either privatised or commercialised.

However, Tinubu criticised the outcomes of the exercise, arguing that many of the assets sold are no longer functional. He cited the steel industry in Delta State and the Ajaokuta Steel Company in Kogi State as examples.

Reaffirming his political stance, Tinubu assured supporters that he would not back down ahead of the 2027 elections and urged continued grassroots mobilisation.

“I won’t run away from the affairs… I won’t give up,” he said, recalling the challenges he faced during both the primaries and the general election.