House of Representatives Minority Leader, Fred Agbedi, has expressed optimism that if former president Goodluck Jonathan is on the ballot, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will win the 2027 general elections.

Agbedi made this this assertion on Monday when he appeared as a guest in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’.

He was speaking on the level of preparation for next year’s general elections, noting that the PDP is still strong regardless of the crisis confronting it.

“With former President Jonathan on the ballot, PDP will win in 2027. While we can agree that he has not mentioned running in 2027, he has also not ruled out the possibility.

“The question of whether it will be the Wike faction or the Turaki faction of the PDP that fields the party’s presidential candidate is yet to be decided. We are confident that the judgement will go our way,” he said

Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had rejected Jonathan’s nomination for the 2027 polls submitted by the Taminu Turaki faction of the PDP.

The electoral body stated that nominations can only be processed through its designated online portal in line with electoral regulations.

The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, on Monday revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is pitching his tent with the people who will disappoint him in the coming elections.

In a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Primate Ayodele stated that the president has been blindfolded spiritually and those he is currently relying on will disappoint him, especially some governors.

Ayodele explained that the election will be determined spiritually and that there are a lot of people around the president deceiving him.

He also explained that the president’s dependence on the US and France will have a negative impact on his government, noting that no movement can ensure victory for him.

“The election will be determined spiritually because there are a lot of things people don’t want from Tinubu any longer and a lot of people are deceiving him.

“Tinubu doesn’t have a grip on his government at the moment except he sees reliable people, but I don’t see those people with him. He is still relying on governors that will disappoint him because not even all of them will win their states.

“Apart from this, Tinubu’s dependence on the US and France for victory will further affect him, but he has been blindfolded spiritually. It’s not in the hands of any movement or money they are sharing, but he isn’t ready to listen.”

He further said that if the opposition works in the right path, it will be difficult for Tinubu to come back and even INEC may not be able to help him.

“It is only if the opposition doesn’t work along the line that the president will come back; if not, it will be very difficult. They are only packaging the President, and even the INEC cannot give him victory.

“What is on the ground is serious, and the north isn’t settled at all; the northerners will show themselves at the 11th hour. It will not look well if the president ends his second term ambition in shame and disgrace, and apart from this, the aura of the election date isn’t good for Tinubu’s victory.”

Gunmen have attacked the convoy of Sekinat Oyebamiji, wife of the Osun State All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Asiwaju Oyebamiji in Ede South Local Government Area of the state.

The attack was said to have occurred on Sunday evening shortly after Mrs Oyebamiji concluded a political engagement in Alajue Ward 2, where she had met with residents and party supporters ahead of the August 15 governorship election in the state.

She was reportedly accompanied by Princess Bukola Adereti, wife of the APC deputy governorship candidate, Alhaji Kayode Adereti, during the visit.

The assailants, numbering about 15,  were said to have carried out the attack at about 7 p.m. while Mrs Oyebamiji was leaving the venue of the programme.

Although Mrs Oyebamiji and Princess Adereti escaped without injury, one of the persons in the convoy reportedly sustained serious injuries.

The victim, identified as the Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Sekona Branch, was said to have suffered severe head injuries during the incident and was later taken for medical treatment.