- Former Labour Party chieftain Valentine Ozigbo has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could win a free and fair election in Nigeria.
- He argued that the opposition has weakened itself by failing to strengthen its political structures after the 2023 election.
- Ozigbo added that if Tinubu successfully improves governance, he could even earn support from critics.
Former Labour Party chieftain Valentine Ozigbo has expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could win another election if it were conducted in a free, fair, and credible manner.
Speaking during a political discussion, Ozigbo explained that Tinubu’s potential victory would not necessarily be because of overwhelming public approval of his administration but partly due to the weakness of the opposition.
According to him, elections are sometimes decided not because voters strongly support a candidate but because they reject the alternatives available.
Ozigbo noted that opposition figures such as Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar missed several opportunities to strengthen their political structures after the 2023 presidential election.
He explained that greater investment in grassroots politics and participation in off-cycle elections in states like Imo State, Edo State, and Bayelsa State could have helped the opposition build stronger political support ahead of future national elections.
According to Ozigbo, these missed opportunities have weakened the opposition to the extent that some observers believe there may not be a strong challenger capable of defeating Tinubu in another election cycle.
He also noted that if the president shows genuine commitment to improving governance and restoring Nigeria, some critics might eventually support his leadership.
“If we have a good understanding that will restore Nigeria in the manner we envisage, I will be his champion,” Ozigbo said, adding that in such a situation Tinubu would even receive his vote at his polling unit.
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