Veteran lawyer and public affairs analyst Jesutega Onokpasa has announced he will withhold support from President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election—despite remaining within the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Disillusionment with Campaign Promises
Onokpasa, who campaigned vigorously for Tinubu in 2023, cited unmet pledges on food affordability as the main reason for his withdrawal of support:
“When we campaigned for him in 2023 he promised to make food cheap. Today, we cannot deny the high rate of hunger in the land,” he stated.
He emphasised that his decision is not driven by personal ambition or offers from rival parties.
Commitment to the APC, Critique of Leadership
Although critical of the president’s performance, Onokpasa affirmed his loyalty to the APC:
- Party allegiance: “I’m not leaving my party the APC for anybody, including President Tinubu.”
- Internal reform: He plans to collaborate with fellow dissatisfied APC members to push for leadership change: “Those of us who put Tinubu in office and are dissatisfied with him … will work together to remove him from power.”
Context: Hunger Crisis and Economic Strain
Nigeria’s food security challenges have intensified in recent months, fueled by:
- Rising global commodity prices
- Persistent supply-chain bottlenecks
- Insecurity disrupting farming activities
According to recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics, food inflation remains above 30%, exacerbating hardship for millions of households.
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Implications for 2027 and Beyond
Onokpasa’s stance highlights deepening fault lines within the APC:
- Erosion of grassroots support: Discontent over core campaign promises may weaken Tinubu’s re-election bid.
- Internal power struggles: A coordinated push from party insiders could force leadership negotiations or trigger a formal challenge at the 2026 National Convention.
- Opposition advantage: Any fragmentation in the ruling party risks emboldening rival parties ahead of the next general elections.
Political observers note that public declarations by prominent figures like Onokpasa can galvanise both grassroots activists and disaffected lawmakers.
What’s Next for the APC?
To stem growing dissent, party leaders may consider:
- Policy recalibration: Introducing targeted relief measures to lower food prices.
- Stakeholder engagement: Convening town halls with party faithful to address grievances.
- Leadership dialogue: Initiating formal talks between President Tinubu and key critics, including Onokpasa.
Failure to act decisively could deepen APC’s internal schisms and weaken its standing with voters.
Jesutega Onokpasa’s public refusal to back President Tinubu in 2027, while remaining loyal to the APC, underscores the critical crossroads facing Nigeria’s ruling party. As economic pressures mount and campaign promises falter, the APC must navigate internal dissent and deliver tangible policy outcomes—or risk ceding ground in the next election cycle.
