The leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has warned former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar that he could lose the forthcoming presidential election if he fails to take the necessary steps.
According to the video circulating on social media and obtained by Religion Journalism Foundation, the cleric outlined possible scenarios surrounding the January 2027 election.
He said the former vice-president could emerge victorious but might become his own greatest obstacle. “Protocol will kill Atiku. Careful, Atiku will kill Atiku,” he said. “But God loves Atiku, Atiku did not love himself.” Ayodele also claimed that Atiku was not paying sufficient attention to the challenges ahead of him, warning that people surrounding the former vice-president could contribute to his political difficulties.
The cleric further suggested that Atiku was failing to heed what he described as the word of God, which he said could affect the former vice-president’s presidential ambition.
Three scenarios for 2027 election
Beyond his comments on Atiku, Ayodele outlined three possible scenarios that he believes could shape the outcome of the 2027 presidential election.
He warned that President Tinubu could lose his re-election bid if the contest proceeds to a runoff, while also raising the possibility of a state of emergency being declared amid political tensions.
Addressing the President, the cleric said a second round of voting could prove unfavourable to Tinubu. “If this election goes to a runoff, sincerely, you will not win,” he said.
Ayodele said if a state of emergency is declared, it could potentially disrupt the electoral process and leave the country without a clear result. His third concern centred on the President and his family, whom he urged to seek prayers ahead of the election.
The cleric also cautioned against what he described as the consequences of Tinubu insisting on a second term, suggesting that the political situation could become more complicated if the President pursued re-election. However, Ayodele did not rule out the possibility of Tinubu defeating Atiku, maintaining that the President could still improve his chances if he took the right steps.
The predictions come as political figures and parties position themselves ahead of the next presidential election, with Tinubu seeking another term and Atiku among the opposition figures seeking to challenge the incumbent.
Ayodele has previously made predictions about the political contest, including comments suggesting that the election could bring significant setbacks for politicians and political parties that fail to prepare adequately.