Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Solomon Dalung, has said the outcome of the recent Osun State governorship election has provided an indication of what Nigerians should expect in the 2027 general elections.
Dalung made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, arguing that the Osun election demonstrated that the influence of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and what he described as “federal might” could be defeated at the polls.
According to him, the outcome confirmed a prediction he had made about the 2027 presidential election.
“What happened in Osun is a confirmation of what I said two years ago, that even if Tinubu appointed his wife, Remi Tinubu, as Chief Justice of Nigeria and appointed Seyi, his son, as INEC chairman, he is going to be defeated woefully in 2027,” Dalung said.
He argued that the Osun election showed that having political structures and being the party in government does not automatically guarantee electoral victory.
Dalung said the result had laid the foundation for the 2027 election, particularly regarding the influence of incumbency and federal power.
“The issue of federal might, incumbency, APC being the party in government, has already been put to rest because Nigerians in Osun have proved that there is determination to defend democracy,” he said.
The former minister pointed to the presence of several APC political heavyweights and government officials during the Osun election campaign, arguing that their involvement did not translate into victory for the party.
He listed 30 governors, 45 members of the National Assembly, the APC national chairman, the Senate President and the Speaker among those who, according to him, rallied behind the party in Osun.
“Despite the federal might, despite the 30 governors, 45 members of the National Assembly, national chairman, Senate president, Speaker, all congregating in Osun, APC suffered a humiliating defeat,” Dalung said.
Dalung Attacks Wike Over Osun Defeat
Dalung also criticised Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over his comments following the Osun election.
Wike had suggested that the APC could have won the election if President Bola Tinubu had wanted victory at all costs.
Dalung accused Wike of attempting to shift attention away from what he described as the resources deployed by the APC during the campaign.
“Why is he not talking of the huge mobilisation resources from all the states wasted there and the humiliating loss APC suffered?” he asked.
He also rejected suggestions that the ADC was responsible for the APC’s defeat, insisting that his party should not be blamed for the election outcome.
According to Dalung, the significance of the Osun result is that it demonstrated that government structures and political power alone cannot determine who wins an election.
Dalung Says 2027 Will Be About Voters’ Choice
The former minister said the 2027 presidential election should not simply be viewed as a contest between Tinubu and opposition parties.
Instead, he argued that the election would ultimately be determined by the choice Nigerians make at the ballot box.
“2027 is not going to be an issue of Tinubu; it is not even going to be an issue of opposition. No. But the man Nigerians are going to be electing in 2027,” he said.
Dalung identified regional considerations and the performance of the president as factors that could influence the outcome of the 2027 election.
He maintained that Tinubu would eventually be defeated despite the movement of several governors into the APC.
“The governors whom he has brought to his party can never bail him out,” Dalung said.
He described the gathering of political figures in Osun as a gathering that failed to deliver the expected result for the APC.
“Their gatherings were gatherings of mourners,” he added.
Dalung Calls for Better Leadership
Beyond the 2027 election, Dalung criticised what he described as poor leadership and called on political office holders to prioritise the welfare of Nigerians and their constitutional responsibilities.
He said leaders who understand their constitutional responsibility to protect lives, property and the social wellbeing of citizens would focus on delivering for the people.
Dalung also warned political leaders against concentrating on accumulating wealth at the expense of building a lasting legacy.
He argued that public officials should remember that wealth accumulated during their time in office would not follow them after death and should therefore focus on creating legacies that would be remembered positively.
Source: Channels Television
