Prominent journalist and political commentator Dele Momodu has outlined what he sees as the only viable strategy for the opposition to defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. Speaking recently, Momodu stressed that the opposition must field a Muslim presidential candidate from the North and a Christian running mate from the South to form a balanced and winning ticket.
Momodu argues that President Tinubu has already "locked down" the South politically, making it nearly impossible for any southern candidate, including notable figures like Peter Obi and Goodluck Jonathan, to mount an effective challenge against him there. According to Momodu, this reality requires the opposition to strategically focus on the North to counterbalance Tinubu’s dominance.
He highlighted that Tinubu's campaign benefits from vast financial resources and control of state structures, which gives him a strong advantage. Momodu emphasized the need for unity in the opposition by adopting clear zoning arrangements that resonate with Nigeria’s ethnic and religious diversity, citing that the northern Muslim–southern Christian ticket can help avoid controversies surrounding a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Momodu dismissed suggestions that such zoning undermines the democratic principle of power rotation, arguing that these unwritten arrangements do not undermine constitutional fairness. He also accused the ruling party of using various tactics such as cajoling and coercion to weaken opposition forces and undermine candidates like Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi whom the APC views as significant threats.
The political commentator warned that without unity and strategic focus, the opposition’s chances of winning against Tinubu’s well-oiled political machinery would remain slim. He concluded that electoral success depends not just on popularity but on effective vote protection and coalition-building across Nigeria’s complex political and regional landscape.
Momodu’s views have stirred reactions, with some applauding his call for practical strategies while the ruling APC has criticized his approach, asserting that elections should focus on performance rather than ethnic or religious identity politics.