Primate Elijah Ayodele, Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has cautioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against replacing Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election.

In a statement released through his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, the religious leader advised the president to resist mounting pressure to drop Shettima, while simultaneously warning of an impending political conflict between the two leaders.

"Tinubu's re-election bid will divide the north; it will cause a lot of division and confusion. The president must not make the mistake of replacing Shettima as his running mate," Primate Ayodele stated.

Prediction of Political Turbulence

Despite advising against a change in the presidential ticket, Ayodele warned that Tinubu should "be ready for a dirty fight" with Shettima, drawing parallels to the notorious political rivalry between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his then-Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

"However, he must be ready for a dirty fight with him, like the days of Obasanjo and Atiku, both of them will have serious issues, but he should not remove Shettima for him to survive," the prophet emphasized.

Ayodele further predicted that the conflict could potentially diminish the Vice President's role in government, suggesting that "this kind of fight may even make the VP shun his office. It will make him less relevant in his office as VP because the pressure will be too much."

Warning About Political Defectors

The religious leader also cautioned President Tinubu about politicians defecting from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), suggesting they might become liabilities rather than assets.

"Tinubu will have problems from those joining the APC now. Instead of adding to his chances, they may end up deducting from them. He needs to stay alert and very careful," Ayodele warned.

The prophecy comes amid growing speculation about potential realignments within Nigeria's political landscape as the country gradually moves toward the 2027 general elections.

While President Tinubu has not officially declared his intention to seek re-election, political activities suggesting preparations for 2027 have already begun to emerge across various quarters.

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