***Says Atiku’s Candidacy Will Bury the Party
The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has advised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to persuade former President Goodluck Jonathan and ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki to contest the 2027 presidential election if the party wants a shot at victory.
In a statement released on Monday, Ayodele warned that fielding former Vice President Atiku Abubakar again would spell doom for the PDP, claiming it would mark the party’s “final burial.”
“Atiku is not the answer for PDP. If he contests again, the party will collapse completely. He doesn’t have what it takes to defeat Tinubu,” Ayodele stated.
According to the cleric, Jonathan remains the strongest option for PDP, but fear is holding him back. He urged the party to give the former president the full backing he needs to return to the race.
“If Jonathan teams up with Saraki and a coalition of opposition parties, PDP stands a real chance,” he added.
Ayodele further declared that defeating President Bola Tinubu in 2027 would require a “desperate, fearless, and financially strong” candidate who is ready for the political battle ahead.
“The 2027 election is not for the weak or righteous; it’s for someone prepared to fight till the very end,” he said.
The cleric warned that if PDP fails to secure the right candidate and build a strong opposition alliance, Tinubu will retain power with ease.