The Tinubu Support Group has dismissed allegations by Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, that there are moves to prevent him from contesting the 2027 presidential election, describing the claims as “baseless, unfortunate and unsupported by evidence.”
In a statement issued by an APC chieftain and prominent member of the Tinubu Support Group, Dr. George Agbakahi, the group maintained that there is no credible evidence that the Federal Government or the Presidency is plotting to stop any opposition candidate from participating in the next presidential election.
“The headline, ‘2027: Obi Alleges Plot to Block Presidential Bid,’ raises a grave allegation that, if true, would strike at the heart of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy. However, allegations of executive interference in the electoral process must be supported by credible, verifiable evidence, not speculation, political rhetorics, or pre-election narratives,” Agbakahi said.
According to him, legal issues surrounding the registration status of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) are matters before the courts and should not be interpreted as evidence of executive interference.
He stressed that the cases were instituted by independent parties and not by the Federal Government, adding that Nigeria’s judiciary remains constitutionally independent, with established appellate processes available to aggrieved litigants.
Agbakahi also defended the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying the electoral body is constitutionally empowered to regulate political parties and ensure that all parties comply with legal and constitutional requirements.
“Subjecting political parties to legal and regulatory scrutiny is a normal feature of constitutional democracy; it should not automatically be portrayed as political persecution,” he stated.
The APC chieftain argued that a serious presidential aspirant should be prepared to address legal, organisational and regulatory challenges within his political platform rather than attribute them to external forces.
“If a politician intends to seek the highest office in the land, ensuring the legal stability, organisational strength and regulatory compliance of his political platform is part of that responsibility,” he said.
He accused Obi of attempting to portray routine legal developments as a coordinated campaign against him instead of addressing what he described as internal shortcomings within his political platform.
Agbakahi further recalled the 2023 presidential election, noting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s victory was achieved through Nigeria’s constitutional electoral process and subsequently upheld by the courts.
He said, “If similar claims of political victimhood are now being advanced without compelling evidence, Nigerians are entitled to examine them critically rather than accept them uncritically.”
The Tinubu Support Group also highlighted President Tinubu’s long-standing political experience, arguing that the President had built a formidable nationwide political structure over several decades before assuming office.
“The suggestion that a politician with such an extensive nationwide structure must rely on manipulating judicial processes to eliminate opponents underestimates both his political pedigree and the strength of Nigeria’s democratic institutions,” Agbakahi said.
He maintained that the Federal Government remains focused on governance, including economic reforms, security, infrastructure development and institutional reforms, rather than determining who contests future elections.
Agbakahi urged political actors to pursue legal disputes through the courts and strengthen their political organisations instead of making unsubstantiated allegations capable of undermining public confidence in democratic institutions.
“As 2027 approaches, the Nigerian people, not sensational headlines, conspiracy theories or unsubstantiated allegations, will decide who leads the nation. In a constitutional democracy, the presidency is won at the ballot box, not through misleading political rhetoric,” he said.
