Lagos, Nigeria – October 18, 2025 – In a resounding dismissal of divisive tactics, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has boldly proclaimed that ethnic politics will play no role in thwarting President Bola Tinubu's re-election bid in 2027. This firm stance came during a pointed statement issued on Saturday by Mr. Seye Oladejo, the party's outspoken spokesman, who characterized such strategies as relics of a bygone era. Oladejo's remarks were a direct riposte to Chief Dele Momodu, the prominent media mogul and recent defector from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who had publicly urged opposition parties to unite and leverage ethnic sentiments to unseat the incumbent president.
The APC's declaration underscores a pivotal shift in Nigeria's political landscape, where voters are increasingly prioritizing tangible governance outcomes over tribal affiliations. Oladejo's statement, released from the party's Lagos headquarters, not only celebrated Momodu's inadvertent acknowledgment of Tinubu's political invincibility but also painted a vivid picture of a maturing democracy. "Let it be known that the days of weaponising ethnicity as a shortcut to power are long gone," Oladejo declared with unwavering conviction. He emphasized that the Nigerian electorate has undergone a profound transformation, evolving from passive participants swayed by primordial loyalties to discerning citizens who demand accountability and results.
This evolution, according to Oladejo, stems from a collective national awakening. Nigerians, he argued, have witnessed too many cycles of unfulfilled promises peddled under the guise of ethnic solidarity. Instead, the focus has sharpened on leaders who can deliver on core promises: robust infrastructure, economic resilience, and equitable social programs. "The Nigerian electorate has evolved. They are now focused on who can deliver results, not who can divide the nation," Oladejo elaborated. He took a subtle jab at Momodu's advisory role, quipping that true leadership is "earned through vision, performance, and consistency – not through editorials written from the sidelines of social gigs." This line, laced with irony, highlighted the perceived disconnect between Momodu's high-profile social commentary and the gritty realities of on-the-ground governance.
Delving deeper into the achievements of the Tinubu administration, Oladejo painted an optimistic portrait of Nigeria's ongoing renaissance. Under President Tinubu's stewardship since his inauguration in May 2023, the country has embarked on a comprehensive rebuilding effort anchored in the pillars of equity, inclusion, and bold reform. These principles, he noted, permeate every facet of national policy. Infrastructural renewal stands out as a flagship accomplishment: major highways like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road and the Abuja-Kano Expressway are progressing at unprecedented speeds, easing the burdens of daily commuters and boosting intra-state commerce. Economic stabilization efforts, including the removal of fuel subsidies and foreign exchange unification, have begun yielding fruits, with inflation trends showing early signs of moderation and investor confidence surging, as evidenced by a 15% uptick in foreign direct investment in the first half of 2025.
Social investment programs further exemplify this inclusive approach. Initiatives such as the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) have expanded, providing cash transfers to over 12 million vulnerable households, skill acquisition training for youth, and subsidized healthcare for low-income families. Oladejo stressed that these reforms transcend ethnic boundaries, fostering a sense of shared prosperity. "This administration is proving that leadership is about ideas, not identity," he asserted, urging Nigerians to recognize how Tinubu's pan-Nigerian vision unites the diverse federation rather than fracturing it along fault lines.
Momodu's recent political maneuver—abandoning the PDP, where he once vied unsuccessfully for its presidential ticket in 2023, for the lesser-known ADC—provided Oladejo with ample fodder for critique. The APC spokesman commended Momodu for "finally admitting the obvious – that President Bola Tinubu remains politically unstoppable." Yet, he advised the Ovation magazine publisher to introspect before dispensing electoral strategies. "Truth be told, political realists have accepted the defeat of the opposition, come Year 2027, individually and collectively," Oladejo remarked. He portrayed Momodu's call for an ethnic coalition as a desperate, anachronistic ploy doomed to failure in an era where competence trumps charisma.
Looking ahead to 2027, Oladejo envisioned the presidential election not as a battle of tribes but as a straightforward referendum on performance. Voters, he predicted, would weigh Tinubu's track record against the opposition's history of inertia. "The 2027 election will be a referendum on competence and performance, not on ethnicity or nostalgia. And in that contest, Dele Momodu’s brand of political showmanship will have no place," he concluded with finality. This prognosis aligns with recent polls, such as the NOI Polls survey from September 2025, which showed Tinubu's approval rating at 62% nationwide, with Lagos leading at 78%, driven by visible improvements in urban mobility and power supply.
The APC's Lagos chapter, a powerhouse in Nigerian politics under Tinubu's home turf, has long been a vanguard for progressive ideals. Since Tinubu's days as Lagos governor from 1999 to 2007, the state has transformed into Africa's fifth-largest economy, with initiatives like the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system and Eko Atlantic City serving as blueprints for national development. Oladejo's statement reinforces this legacy, positioning the APC as the architect of a united, forward-looking Nigeria.
Critics, including remnants of the PDP and Labour Party, may decry this as overconfidence, but Oladejo's words resonate with a growing cadre of young voters—Gen Z and millennials—who constitute 40% of the electorate. Social media buzz post-statement exploded, with #TinubuUnstoppable trending on X (formerly Twitter), amassing over 250,000 mentions in 24 hours. Users shared testimonials of transformed lives, from farmers in the North benefiting from fertilizer subsidies to traders in the South East accessing cheaper credit.
In essence, the APC's proclamation signals the death knell for ethnic jingoism in Nigerian politics. As the nation approaches 2027, the spotlight will illuminate governance metrics: GDP growth projected at 4.2% for 2026, unemployment dipping below 30%, and insecurity curtailed through enhanced security funding. Tinubu's re-election, Oladejo insists, is not a gamble but a foregone conclusion, etched in the stone of proven delivery. For opposition figures like Momodu, the message is clear: adapt to the new reality or fade into irrelevance. Nigeria's democracy, once vulnerable to division, now marches toward unity under the banner of progress.
