Former presidential aide and ambassador-designate, Reno Omokri, has declared that the opposition faces an uphill battle in its bid to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, citing improving economic indicators and the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s expanding political dominance across Nigeria.
Omokri made the remarks on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he argued that the ruling party is in a stronger position than it was during the 2023 general election.
According to him, the APC now controls about 30 governors across the country, compared to roughly 20 states under its leadership during the last election cycle.
“If the opposition could not defeat Tinubu with about 20 governors in 2023, how are they going to be able to defeat him right now with 30 governors?” he asked.
“If the opposition could not defeat the president when he had not fulfilled his campaign promises, how can they defeat him when he has fulfilled his campaign promises?”
Omokri further pointed to what he described as growing international recognition of Tinubu’s economic reforms. Referencing comments credited to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), he said Nigeria’s reform trajectory is being highlighted globally.
“Just last week, we saw that the IMF were on air, saying that right now they go about from country to country telling them that if you want reforms that work, learn from Nigeria,” he said.
Highlighting economic performance since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, Omokri claimed that Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) and manufacturing capacity have recorded significant gains.
“By the time this president took office, our GDP was so low, we had gone from the first in Africa to about the fourth.
“Right now, we have the second-largest manufacturing capacity in Africa. We have added $67 billion to our GDP in two years,” he said.
He also maintained that ordinary Nigerians are experiencing tangible benefits from the administration’s policies, particularly in fuel availability and pricing.
“Since Bola Tinubu became president, they (Nigerians) have never had to queue at the petrol station to get fuel. Fuel is readily available. Fuel is inexpensive.
“This is the first government that we’ve seen since the Yar’Adua government, where fuel has gone down in price multiple times. Not once, multiple times. So, in their pockets they are feeling it.
“Do not allow yourself to be moved by these people who go to the National Assembly to protest. Those are elites. They are trying to snatch power.
“The average Nigerian has seen his purchasing power increase. If you take 50 dollars right now in Nigeria, convert it to naira, what you buy from the markets you cannot buy in any West African country. Nigeria has significantly more purchasing power.”
Omokri insisted that with stronger party control at the state level, what he described as fulfilled campaign promises, and improving economic fundamentals, the opposition’s path to victory in 2027 appears increasingly narrow.
