Governors in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) cannot determine the political alliances President Bola Tinubu should accept ahead of the 2027 elections
This is the position of Amb Tajudeen Olesin, who recently dumped the ruling party for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State.
While backing the Nyesom Wike-led Rainbow Coalition, he challenged the governors to focus on their records in office
His position followed the APC Governors Forum’s declaration that its members would not support any alliance capable of undermining Tinubu’s re-election bid, weakening the APC or affecting its candidates
Olesin said political actors remained free to form alliances and support candidates outside their respective platforms
“Wike is the leader of the coalition and he has every political right to decide who the coalition will work with and support in the election,” he said
He argued that political parties without presidential candidates could support candidates produced by other platforms
“Are political parties without presidential candidates forbidden from working with a presidential candidate of their choice?
“There is no democratic principle that says a political party must support only a candidate produced on its own platform”, he noted
Rather than contesting the emergence of such alliances, Olesin challenged APC governors to demonstrate what their administrations had achieved with the resources available to their states
“If the governors are proud of their achievements, let them showcase what they have been able to achieve with the allocations they have received so far,” he said
He said their records should be assessed against issues including poverty reduction, education, healthcare, job creation, infrastructure, agriculture, human capital development and social protection
“Governors should show Nigerians how increased resources have translated into better lives for ordinary citizens,” Olesin said
On Tinubu’s political relationships, he said the President should be allowed to determine which alliances he considers useful to his re-election effort
“No governor should assume the responsibility of determining which political relationships the President should accept,” he said
Olesin urged the governors to strengthen their party structures and persuade voters with their performance as the 2027 elections approaches
“They should face governance, engage their people, strengthen their party structures and persuade voters with their records rather than attempting to dictate the limits of political alliances,” he said
He said the emerging political contest should ultimately be taken to the electorate, with political actors presenting their records and making their case before Nigerians
“The coalition has come to stay Rather than fighting it, let every political actor return to the people, present their records, make their case and allow Nigerians to decide,” he said.