Osuntokun Makes Fresh Prediction About Tinubu’s Electoral Prospects In The North

Former presidential adviser Akin Osuntokun has expressed the view that President Bola Tinubu could perform better in northern Nigeria than some of his critics anticipate ahead of the 2027 general election.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Osuntokun, who serves as Director of Politics at Arise News, made the assessment during an interview on the television station on Monday while discussing regional voting patterns and the electoral prospects of leading presidential contenders.

He argued that, despite concerns over insecurity, economic hardship and criticism of Tinubu’s administration, the President remained competitive in several northern states.

Osuntokun said his assessment of the electoral trends did not support claims that Tinubu had been completely rejected by voters in the region.

“Looking at all the three candidates, they’re relatively doing well in the North, I can’t see any surprise. The only aspect of it that I’m surprised at is that the president is fairly competitive in the North,” he said.

He added that, among the contenders under consideration, Tinubu appeared to have reasons to be encouraged by the trends being discussed, despite the negative assessments of his support in the North.

Osuntokun identified Borno, Kwara and Kogi states as areas where Tinubu appeared to have a strong electoral position, while describing the contest in several other northern states as competitive.

“He’s even trending as a winner in Borno State. Borno State, Kwara, and Kogi State, and in almost 9 or 12, or let’s say the 9 other states, it’s competitive,” he said.

The political analyst also suggested that Tinubu could improve his performance in some areas where he did not secure enough votes during the 2023 presidential election, particularly Lagos State, which has a substantial voting population.

According to Osuntokun, the President could attract more votes in Lagos during the next election, potentially improving his overall performance in the state.

He acknowledged that insecurity and economic hardship remained significant concerns but maintained that the electoral trends he discussed suggested Tinubu could still command considerable support despite those challenges.

Osuntokun’s remarks come as political parties and their candidates prepare for the 2027 general election, with regional voting patterns, public concerns and the performance of the incumbent administration expected to feature prominently in the contest.

His assessment represents an analysis of the electoral trends discussed during the interview rather than a confirmed prediction of the election outcome.