President Bola Ahmed Tinubu challenged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi to put forward credible alternatives to his administration's policies as the country looks toward the [ 2027 ](https://tribuneonlineng.com/2027-inec-flags-officials-in-10-states- over-ai-generated-photos-on-voters-register/) general elections. Speaking through Vice-President Kashim Shettima at an All Progressives Congress ( APC ) presidential rally in Akure, Ondo State, the President argued that both opposition figures lacked viable policy frameworks to address Nigeria's socioeconomic challenges.
What did the Vice-President say about opposition leaders?
During the political gathering, Shettima reviewed the administration's trajectory over the past three and a half years, noting that the ruling party enjoyed steady solidarity across several states. He dismissed Atiku's political influence by pointing to internal disagreements within his home state of Adamawa, questioning how a leader unable to build local consensus could successfully unite the nation. Turning to Obi, the former Labour Party standard-bearer, Shettima described his gubernatorial tenure in Anambra as mediocre and argued that his public profile relied more heavily on social media popularity and questionable data than verifiable achievements.
Shettima further threw a challenge to political actors across the board, asking them to present their tangible scorecards from the country's 25 years of uninterrupted democratic governance. He expressed optimism regarding the ruling party's electoral prospects in Ondo State, urging stakeholders to mobilise supporters ahead of the polls.
How does Ondo State position for the upcoming polls?
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa pledged that the state would deliver at least one million votes for the President's re-election bid. Aiyedatiwa praised the administration's reform agenda, noting that grassroots communities had begun feeling the impact of federal policies implemented since May 2023. He also acknowledged key federal appointments granted to indigenes of the state, which he said demonstrated the President's commitment to the region.
Echoing similar sentiments, APC National Chairman Prof Nentawe Yilwatda described Tinubu as the most prepared among the candidates vying for the presidency, citing improvements in financial liquidity that have enabled numerous state governments to service salary obligations consistently. Campaign Director-General and former Zamfara State governor Abdulazeez Yari urged party leaders to focus on expanding the electoral margin rather than merely securing a basic victory in the state.
Meanwhile, Progressive Governors Forum Chairman Hope Uzodimma advised eligible citizens to retrieve their uncollected Permanent Voter Cards from the Independent National Electoral Commission offices to ensure active participation in the democratic process. Other prominent figures, including former Edo State governor Adams Oshiomhole and former Ondo State governor Dr Olusegun Mimiko, also addressed the gathering, urging party unity and sustained grassroots mobilisation to consolidate the administration's political standing in the South-West region.