Politics

Primate Ayodele Predicts Tinubu Will Lose 2027 Presidential Election

Published

3 days ago

August 3, 2026

The Leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has predicted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will lose the 2027 presidential election, arguing that financial inducements or the distribution of food items would not determine the outcome of the poll.

The cleric made the remarks during a church service in Lagos, where he attributed his prediction to what he described as growing public frustration over economic hardship and the rising cost of living.

According to Ayodele, widespread hunger and economic challenges have fuelled public dissatisfaction, which he believes could influence voter behaviour during the next general election.

“There is anger and hunger in the land. By the election, you will see how people will show their grievances. Rice and money will not stop it… Tinubu will lose this election,” he said.

Primate Ayodele also praised Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, for speaking on national issues.

He argued that religious leaders have a responsibility to speak truthfully about the country’s challenges and encourage leaders to act in the public interest.

His comments come as political discussions ahead of the 2027 general election continue to intensify, with political figures, civil society organisations, and religious leaders expressing differing views on the Tinubu administration’s handling of the economy, security, and governance.

President Tinubu’s administration has consistently maintained that its economic reforms, including fiscal and monetary policy adjustments, are designed to stabilise the economy and lay the foundation for sustainable growth.

Government officials have acknowledged that the reforms have imposed short-term hardships but insist they are necessary for long-term national development.

Political analysts note that statements by influential religious leaders often attract public attention in Nigeria, where faith-based organisations play a significant role in national discourse.

However, they also emphasise that election outcomes ultimately depend on the decisions of voters and the electoral process conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

As preparations for the 2027 elections continue, political parties are expected to intensify campaigns, present policy alternatives, and seek support from voters across the country.

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BREAKING: EFCC Reportedly Freezes Osun State Government Account 10 Days Before Governorship Election

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Orji Kalu Defends Tinubu, Says Nigeria’s Challenges Did Not Begin Under His Administration

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Politics

EFCC Defends Freezing Osun Government Accounts, Says Action Unrelated to Governorship Election

Published

7 hours ago

August 5, 2026

Benjamin

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has defended its decision to freeze bank accounts belonging to the Osun State Government, insisting the action was taken to prevent the alleged diversion of about ₦11 billion in public funds and was not influenced by the state’s forthcoming governorship election.

In a statement issued on Wednesday night by the Commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the anti-graft agency said it had been investigating the Osun State Government since March 2026 over the alleged mismanagement of Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds, and Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations.

According to the EFCC, the funds under investigation amount to approximately ₦11 billion.

The Commission disclosed that the Osun State Accountant-General and several other government officials had already appeared before investigators as part of the ongoing probe.

The EFCC explained that its decision to place a Post No Debit (PND) order on the state’s accounts followed the discovery of what it described as suspicious movements of large sums of money into several corporate accounts.

“The Commission cannot watch idly while a state government’s account is being pillaged,” the statement said.

According to the agency, the investigation itself would not have warranted the freezing of the accounts if not for what it described as unusual financial activities observed in recent days.

“These ongoing investigations of the state government would not have warranted any placement of Post No Debit order on its account but for the precipitate and unwarranted movement of funds from the accounts to different suspicious accounts since August 2, 2026.”

The EFCC said investigators detected substantial transfers from government accounts into multiple corporate entities, prompting immediate intervention to halt further transactions.

“The Commission noticed huge transfers of funds into different corporate entities and had to swiftly halt the trend by freezing the accounts from which such heavy funds are being moved,” the statement added.

Responding to concerns over the timing of the action, coming just days before the Osun State governorship election, the Commission maintained that its intervention was purely based on its statutory responsibility to safeguard public funds.

The EFCC insisted that the proximity of the election could not justify delaying enforcement actions where there were allegations of financial misconduct.

As of the time of filing this report, the Osun State Government had not issued a fresh response to the EFCC’s latest statement.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Politics

BREAKING: EFCC Reportedly Freezes Osun State Government Account 10 Days Before Governorship Election

Published

16 hours ago

August 5, 2026

Godfrey Oluwatobi

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has reportedly placed one of the Osun State Government’s bank accounts under a “Post No Debit” restriction, just 10 days before the state’s governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026.

According to documents reportedly seen by Vanguard, the affected account is domiciled with First Bank of Nigeria and is said to be used for the payment of workers’ salaries.

The reported restriction has heightened political tension in the state, coming shortly after Governor Ademola Adeleke alleged that the anti-graft agency was planning to freeze state government accounts and those of key officials.

In a statement issued on Wednesday through the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the governor described the reported action as an attempt to cripple government activities ahead of the governorship election.

Governor Adeleke argued that there was no legal basis for freezing the state’s accounts and maintained that the EFCC does not possess the statutory authority to unilaterally impose such restrictions on state government accounts.

The governor had earlier warned that such a move could affect salary payments and other essential government operations if implemented.

A source close to the Osun State Government, who requested anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly, told Vanguard that the restriction had already taken effect.

According to the source:

“I can confirm that the state government account has been frozen by the EFCC. It is no longer an allegation. The governor will address the press shortly to update the public on the situation.”

If confirmed, the restriction could have significant implications for the state’s financial operations, particularly with the governorship election less than two weeks away.

As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC had not issued an official statement confirming or denying the reported restriction.

Similarly, the commission has not publicly disclosed the reason for placing the account on “Post No Debit” status.

Nigeria Insight will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as more official information becomes available.

The development comes at a politically sensitive time, with campaigns intensifying ahead of the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election.

Given the absence of an official explanation from the EFCC, the claims and counterclaims surrounding the account restriction are likely to attract increased public and political attention in the coming days.

At the time of publication, the reported account restriction is based on documents and statements cited by Vanguard and sources within the Osun State Government.

The EFCC has not publicly confirmed the action or provided its reasons. This report will be updated if the commission issues an official response.

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Meta Description: The EFCC has reportedly placed an Osun State Government account on “Post No Debit” status just 10 days before the August 15 governorship election. The commission has yet to issue an official statement.

Focus Keywords: EFCC Osun account, Osun governorship election, Ademola Adeleke, First Bank, EFCC news, Osun politics, August 2026 election, Nigeria Insight

Politics

Orji Kalu Defends Tinubu, Says Nigeria’s Challenges Did Not Begin Under His Administration

Published

3 days ago

August 3, 2026

Benjamin

Former Governor of Abia State and Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying it would be unfair to blame the President alone for Nigeria’s current economic and security challenges.

Kalu made the remarks during an interview while reacting to recent concerns raised by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) over the state of the nation.

The former governor acknowledged the influential role of the Catholic Bishops, describing them as the moral conscience of the country, but argued that many of the problems confronting Nigeria predate the current administration.

“The Catholic Bishops are the conscience of the country. There’s difficulty in Nigeria, but it’s not the fault of President Tinubu,” Kalu said.

According to the senator, Nigeria’s economic and security challenges have developed over many years and cannot be attributed solely to one administration.

His comments come amid growing public debate over inflation, the rising cost of living, insecurity, unemployment, and broader economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria has, on several occasions, expressed concern over the country’s socio-economic situation, calling on government at all levels to address issues relating to insecurity, poverty, unemployment, corruption, and citizens’ welfare.

President Tinubu’s administration has consistently maintained that many of the economic reforms currently being implemented are intended to stabilise the economy and lay the foundation for long-term growth, even though they have imposed short-term hardships on many Nigerians.

Government officials have repeatedly urged citizens to remain patient, arguing that ongoing reforms including fiscal adjustments, infrastructure investment, and security initiatives will yield positive results over time.

Political analysts say Kalu’s remarks reflect the continuing national debate over responsibility for Nigeria’s current challenges, with supporters of the administration pointing to inherited structural problems, while critics argue that the government should be judged by its handling of the country’s present realities.

As discussions continue, economic recovery, security, and governance are expected to remain dominant issues shaping Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.