Primate Elijah Ayodele, founder of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has cast doubt on the electoral chances of two prominent opposition figures ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking during a church service, the cleric expressed scepticism about the prospects of Peter Obi and Rabi’u Kwankwaso, both of whom now belong to the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC). Rather than running on their own, Ayodele believes the party should have joined forces with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to build a broader coalition.

In his view, going it alone will not deliver meaningful results for the pair. His comments offer a critical take on the NDC’s strategy, which has stirred up a debate since Obi and Kwankwaso left the ADC after internal disputes and legal challenges.

The statement raises fresh questions about how the opposition plans to position itself ahead of the next election cycle.