2027 Election: Primate Ayodele Releases Prophecy on Top APC Governor, How He Could Lose

• Nigerian cleric, Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele, has shared a prophecy about Hope Uzodinma, the Governor of Imo state
• Famous for issuing prophecies, Primate Ayodele unveiled his vision concerning the 2027 election for the state's new leader
• The prominent cleric commented on Uzodinma's political ambition, path, and political enemies while sharing the details

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering elections, politics, and governance in Nigeria.

Owerri, Imo state - Primate Elijah Ayodele has stated that if Hope Uzodinma, the Imo state governor, picks the wrong candidate, he will lose the 2027 election.

The Nigerian Tribune noted Primate Ayodele's fresh prophecy.

In a recent statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, the leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church asked Governor Uzodinma to be careful 'so they would not lie against him at the presidency'.

Uzodinma, serving as the governor of Imo state since 2020, is the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), a body of all governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Discussing his latest prophecy, Ayodele said:

“Hope Uzodinma: He must be very careful despite the fact that he will be making a good effort. He must not make a mistake in picking a wrong candidate for his party. There will be so much confusion, and if he picks a wrong candidate, he will lose. His candidate will defeat Ihiedioha, but he should be mindful of insecurity, work with the poor masses, begin to start with a poverty alleviation programme, and have an open policy system.

He continued: "There is a future for his political ambition if he follows this with keen interest so that he won’t have political enemies. He must also be careful so they won’t lie against him in the presidency. He must work on his health and the movements of security operatives attached to the First Lady.”

2027 election: Ayodele discusses sacking of Tinubu

Meanwhile, Primate Ayodele stated that if three politicians entered the next presidential election race, President Bola Tinubu would 'not go beyond 2027'.

The preacher explained that there is a possibility of the Nigerian statesman losing out if an unnamed trio of contenders put their hands up for the presidency.

In the same vein, Ayodele stated that governors who are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been compromised ahead of the 2027 election.

Ayodele specifically mentioned Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Oyo, and Osun states as those that he saw being negotiated for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

APC's unpopularity in southeast could impact party’s victory - Analyst

Meanwhile, Dr. Thompson Olakunle Olasupo, a political historian and analyst, criticising Primate Ayodele’s prediction, alleged that the APC's unpopularity in the southeast makes it nearly impossible for the party to win elections there without manipulation or federal intervention.

“The APC is unpopular in the southeast. The elections won in those areas are either by crook or decampment. Many Igbos have this resentment and reservations towards the APC," Olasupo claimed.

Prophecy misleading, illogical - Dr. Olasupo

“As for the prophecy, the man is only a religious CBEX. What he said about the governor is not only false and deceiving but also lacks any logic,” Olasupo added.

Olasupo argued that the APC’s alleged lack of credibility among southeastern voters undermines any chances it might have, regardless of candidate selection. He said that even a widely loved and upright candidate would still face rejection under the APC platform due to regional mistrust and past grievances.

“The fact is if a saint and lovable person vies for any post under APC in Igboland, the person will lose the election because the Igbos are not comfortable with the party for many reasons.”

He concluded by dismissing the prophecy as a publicity stunt:

“Thus I do not agree with the prophet because whether Hope puts in the best or a saint, the party itself is unpopular in Igboland except it does what it does best… rigging and capture.”

Election prophecies in Nigeria

Election prophecies have become a common feature of Nigeria’s political landscape, often shaping public expectations and fueling intense media coverage during electoral cycles.

A recent academic study has raised fresh concerns about the integrity and influence of such prophecies, revealing widespread public scepticism amid continued religious belief in their significance.

The research, conducted by Daniel O. Orogun of the University of Pretoria, surveyed 519 respondents across Nigeria and found that while many Nigerians believe in the spiritual power of prophetic declarations, confidence in their accuracy and consistency is low.

The study examined the performance of prominent religious figures in past elections and found that their predictions were often contradictory or inaccurate.

In 2015, Catholic cleric Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka correctly predicted President Goodluck Jonathan’s loss but inaccurately forecasted President Muhammadu Buhari’s defeat in 2019. Earlier, in 2003, Mbaka wrongly predicted that Governor Chimaroke Nnamani would not win a second term. While he accurately foresaw Governor Emeka Ihedioha’s loss to Hope Uzodinma in Imo state, he incorrectly predicted Governor Charles Soludo’s defeat in the Anambra election. The research concludes that Mbaka’s prophecies over the past 20 years have remained inconsistent.

Similarly, the late Prophet T.B. Joshua claimed in 2016 that a woman would win the US presidential election, a prophecy that failed when Donald Trump emerged victorious. Following criticism, Joshua reportedly deleted the prophecy from his digital platforms.

In 2022, Pastor Enoch Adeboye warned that the 2023 elections might not occur—a prediction refuted by the All Progressives Congress (APC), and eventually disproved when elections were held in February 2023.

Ahead of that election, other Nigerian clerics issued conflicting predictions: Prophet Odumeje and Shalom Akinbo backed Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP); Prophetess Joy Tony and Primate Ayodele predicted victory for the LP or PDP; Prophet Chukwudi and Adewale Giwa favoured Atiku Abubakar of the PDP; while Johnson Suleman, Sunday Adelaja, David Alamu, and Prophet Godwin Ikuru prophesied Bola Tinubu’s victory.

Of 13 documented 2023 election prophecies analysed, only four aligned with the official outcome declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which confirmed APC's Bola Tinubu as the winner. The study argues that this inconsistency undermines the credibility of most Election Prophecies (EPs).

The findings have renewed calls for greater scrutiny and accountability of religious figures making political prophecies, urging a re-evaluation of their role in Africa’s democratic processes.

Read more on the 2027 election:

• 2027 election: Again, Atiku speaks amid reports he is allegedly leaving PDP
• 2027 election: Peter Obi's camp reacts as Akpabio asks presidential hopeful to immediately solve LP crises
• 2027 election: PDP chieftain reacts as 22 Delta lawmakers dump party for APC, “shameful betrayal”

Uzodinma finally speaks on Tinubu's tax reform bills

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Governor Uzodinma urged Nigerians to carefully review President Tinubu's tax reform bills before passing judgement.

The Imo Governor expressed his belief that the bills would harmonise the tax system, promote prudence, and raise revenue for the government of Nigeria.

He encouraged people to look beyond politics and understand the bills' provisions, listing possible benefits like a single-window tax payment system.

Legit.ng's head of politics and current affairs desk, Nurudeen Lawal, contributed insights from a research study on election prophecies in Nigeria to this report.

Editorial assistant Ololade Olatimehin provided exclusive commentary from a political analyst for this report.

Source: Legit.ng