2027: Oyinlola Says Tinubu, Atiku Too Old, Wants Younger Nigerians to Lead
Former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has called on President Bola Tinubu and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to step aside from active politics and allow younger Nigerians to take over the country’s leadership ahead of the 2027 general election.
Oyinlola made the call on Wednesday, November 4, during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, where he discussed Nigeria’s political leadership and developments within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The former governor argued that age should be considered when determining who seeks political office, recalling that he had previously advocated limiting governorship ambitions to people below 50 based on his experience in office.
“When I was in Osun, I made a declaration based on my experience in office that anybody above 50 should not aspire to be governor of a state,” he said.
He maintained that Tinubu and Atiku had made their contributions and should give younger Nigerians the opportunity to lead the country.
Oyinlola, who is a member of the PDP, also expressed support for Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s reported ambition to contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
His comments come amid political realignments and discussions over possible presidential contenders ahead of the next general election.
Oyinlola rejects Wike’s leadership
In a related development during the interview, Oyinlola dismissed the suggestion that Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, was his leader in the PDP.
Asked whether he recognised Wike as his leader, the former governor responded in the negative, insisting that although he remained a member of the opposition party, he did not accept the minister’s leadership over him.
Oyinlola, a retired military officer, argued that their political and professional backgrounds did not place Wike in a position to lead him.
He recalled that he was serving as military governor of Lagos State between 1993 and 1996 when Wike was still in school.
The former governor also distanced himself from the reported Rainbow Coalition associated with Wike, saying nobody had invited him to join the political arrangement.
The coalition has been linked to efforts to support Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Blames internal forces for PDP crisis
Speaking further about the crisis within the PDP, Oyinlola blamed internal forces for frustrating efforts to restore unity and strengthen the party.
He acknowledged the efforts of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to rebuild the party’s structure but said some individuals within the organisation were working against its revival.
According to him, the PDP is not dead and retains structures across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
He expressed confidence that the party could regain its political strength if members resolved their differences and worked towards rebuilding its structures.
Oyinlola’s comments come as political parties and prominent politicians position themselves ahead of the 2027 general election, with questions surrounding party leadership, presidential ambitions and possible political alliances continuing to shape the country’s political landscape.
