The former governor of Ekiti State has claimed that President Bola Tinubu would defeat presidential candidates in the likes of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, even if the election is conducted 10 times.

Fayose spoke in an interview on EKTV against the backdrop of those calling for Tinubu’s resignation from office due to the escalating insecurity challenges in the country.

According to Fayose, “A lot of people on social media are asking Tinubu to resign now, but I’m saying you don’t need to fight because he still has one year left.

“Now all those agitating on social media have candidates they are supporting, some are with Peter Obi, others are with Atiku; it’s still somebody you want to collect from Atiku and give.

“But I’m explaining that if the election is conducted 10 times, Tinubu will defeat all of them.

“Somebody whom Buhari did not support, but he struggled and emerged President, will now fold his hands and allow the opposition to take over power from him? Even me this little thing, will finish them.”

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former aide to President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday warned presidential candidates that coming from the North does not automatically mean them getting votes from the region in 2027.

Baba-Ahmed spoke on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Thursday.

He said, “Most northerners have moved away from the idea that just coming from the North is enough to get our votes. From the southern part of the country there are a good number that have learnt their lessons from simply voting for a candidate.

“If coming from the southern part of the country is an advantage, why does it have to be a Yoruba man being President for four years, why not pick Edo man or somebody from the South-East?”

The former presidential aide noted that Nigerians would not vote based on regional sentiment but their sufferings.

“I don’t think Nigerians would vote purely on regional terms, I think Nigerians will look at how we are being killed everyday on the street, how poverty has eaten deep, they might vote for good candidates like the ones we are fielding and then we can make a change.

“I think we are over rating this idea that coming from one part of the country qualifies you or puts you at a disadvantage of winning an election,” Baba-Ahmed added.

The political leader of Uyo Senatorial District in Akwa Ibom State, Senator Effiong Bob, has reminded  critics and those bent on ousting Governor Umo Eno in 2027 that the goalpost can never  be shifted while a match is going on.

He noted that the governor’s tenure should be allowed to run its full course.

Speaking with journalists in Uyo on Thursday, Bob urged those who want to contest for governorship or any other elective office to embrace issue based campaigns and not to resort to personal attacks on Governor Eno.

He added that the people of Uyo Senatorial District, where the governor comes from, will not allow anyone to either truncate the conventional eight year tenure for the governor or to embark on venomous attacks on his person.

“You cannot shift the goalpost while the match is on. He has just completed the third year in his first term. The governor’s mandate should run its full course.

“Uyo Senatorial District would not stand by and see our governor, that is supposed to do and will do eight years, being rubbished. If you want to contest an election, go and contest your election. Leave the governor alone,” he said.

Bob added, “We will resist every attempt, I mean every attempt, to bring down the governance structure of Umo Eno as a governor at this time.

“Anybody that wants to contest election should articulate what you are going to do, which you feel the governor has not done, and then, when you are there, you will do better.”