On Saturday, residents of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, gathered publicly to express support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s potential re-election bid in 2027. The rally featured chants and placards praising his leadership, even as Nigeria continues to grapple with high inflation, economic hardship, and widespread poverty.
Videos from the event showed enthusiastic participants declaring satisfaction with the president’s governance and urging continuity. However, reactions online were deeply divided. Critics dismissed the gathering as a staged or paid demonstration, with some attributing the support to ethnic and regional loyalties. Supporters pushed back, pointing to recent stock market gains, ongoing economic reforms, and long-term policy goals as reasons for their optimism.
The rally highlights Nigeria’s intensifying political polarization as the 2027 elections approach. While President Tinubu maintains strong backing within his Southwestern political base, national sentiment remains mixed. Recent opinion polls placing his approval rating at around 37 percent, alongside visible youth dissatisfaction, underscore the challenges ahead.
As campaigning narratives begin to take shape, events like this underscore the contrasting perceptions of leadership and reform—and the evolving political landscape Nigeria must navigate in the lead-up to 2027.
