Tinubu vows to 'wrestle' opponents in 2027 polls, confirms INEC neutrality

President Bola Tinubu affirmed his readiness to compete fiercely in the 2027 presidential election during a meeting with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria at State House on Tuesday, July 29, 2026. He stated political opponents 'will try' to take the presidency from him, emphasizing 'all is fair in politics' and that he won't give adversaries 'a red carpet' or 'the leash to tie me,' adding they must 'wrestle each other to the finishing point.' Tinubu also declared the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) neutral, stating it has 'never, never intimidated anybody.'

The 2027 general election timeline was confirmed: presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on January 16, 2027, while gubernatorial and State Assembly elections follow on February 6, 2027, across all Nigerian states. Tinubu, as All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer, will contest against opponents including Atiku Abubakar (African Democratic Congress, ADC) and Peter Obi (Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC), among others. This clarification comes amid opposition concerns about electoral fairness and INEC's impartiality.

With election dates now officially confirmed, Nigerians can begin planning their civic participation—whether securing PVCs, researching candidates, or organizing community voter education efforts. Will you mark January 16 and February 6, 2027 on your calendar now to ensure timely voter preparation, or wait until closer to the dates when preparation time may be limited?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/07/29/2027-i-will-wrestle-my-opponents-to-finish-point-tinubu-vows/