A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Niger State, Jonathan Vatsa, has warned President Bola Tinubu that relying on governors and political elites could jeopardise his 2027 re-election bid.
Vatsa, a former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, said the outcome of the Osun governorship election showed that many political leaders had lost touch with the electorate and could no longer guarantee votes for the ruling party.
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Speaking with journalists in Minna on Monday, he urged Tinubu to change his approach and reconnect directly with Nigerians, saying the President should not depend solely on political structures ahead of 2027.
“For the number of APC governors that gathered in Osun, and for them to come back empty-handed, it is an indication that they have lost the confidence of the people,” Vatsa said.
He attributed the growing public anger to economic hardship, arguing that increased revenues following the removal of fuel subsidy had not translated into meaningful relief for ordinary Nigerians.
“The entire fuel subsidy money is being shared to the governors who are doing little or nothing with it, and unfortunately Nigerians are putting the blame of the current hardship on the doorstep of President Tinubu,” he said.
Vatsa said Nigerians were becoming less influenced by political structures, big names and elite endorsements, insisting that voters were now more concerned about tangible improvements in their lives.
“What the people want now is food on their table, jobs for their children, security in their communities, and visible impact from government in their daily lives,” Vatsa added.
The APC chieftain also blamed internal divisions within the ruling party for its poor performance in Osun, warning that similar opposition within the party could affect the 2027 general elections.
“There are so many oppositions within the party, and this will also play out in the general elections in 2027,” he said.
Vatsa further cautioned Tinubu against depending on ministers, lawmakers and governors whom he said had lost the confidence of their constituents.
“Many of the elites he is relying on, including ministers, lawmakers and governors, are not working in his best interest,” he noted.
Vatsa described the Osun election as an early warning to the APC, saying hunger, unemployment, insecurity and perceived poor leadership could shape voters’ decisions in 2027.
“If, despite the full solidarity of the APC structure in Osun, the governorship result did not favour our party, then the message is crystal clear. It is time for Tinubu to reconnect with the grassroots before the 2027 contest,” he stressed.
