2027 elections: Obasanjo supports Obi by day, Tinubu by night, group alleges

By Kingston Magare 27.7.2026
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has been accused of double dealing by doing right by Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi, but behind closed doors he is rooting for incumbent President Bola Tinubu.
A group Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum, YRLF, made the accusations saying Obasanjo was making moves that will weaken the opposition.
In a statement signed by its president, Akin Malaolu, the group alleged that Obasanjo’s recent interventions on national politics were aimed at weakening opposition forces. He claimed by recently attacking by former Vice-President Atiku Abubbakar in a letter to Segun Osoba claiming that Atiku and former House of Reps Speaker Ghali Na’Abba wanted to impeach him was a pointer to the accusations Obasanjo was acting a script.
“Many think that the attack by Chief Obasanjo is against Atiku. Far from it. What Obasanjo did was a deliberate attack against the opposition parties in Nigeria.
“By this letter, Obasanjo has only confirmed speculations that he is working for his kinsman, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to actualise his second term ambition.
“The so-called Obasanjo’s support for Obi and Kwankwaso is a mere smokescreen aimed at masking his covert support for the Tinubu-led APC administration.”
However, Obasanjo’s former Political Adviser, Dr Akin Osuntokun, dismissed the allegations as unfounded.
“If you can say that Obasanjo is supporting any ticket, it is the Peter Obi–Kwankwaso ticket,” Osuntokun said, describing claims of secret support for Tinubu as “absolute bunkum.”