Elder statesman and former governor of Ogun state, Olusegun Osoba, has alleged that ahead of the 2027 presidential election, there is a gang-up against President Tinubu in Southern Nigeria.

The gang-up, he alleged, is aimed at fielding different presidential candidates from the region with a view to dividing votes and drastically reducing Tinubu’s margin.

Osoba said this at the State House in Abuja on Sunday, May 25 where President Tinubu was declared winner of the APC Presidential primaries.

Speaking shortly before the announcement, Osoba asked APC members to prepare for the “real election” coming next January. He described insinuations among APC members that Tinubu has no opponent as a misleading narrative.

He alleged that the ambitions of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, and former President Goodluck Jonathan, whom he said has been waiting quietly in the background, are all part of attempts to divide Southern votes against Tinubu.

“I want to appeal to us all ahead of the coming election: let us not be caught off guard. Many people are saying we have no opponents, but that is a misleading narrative. The enemies are many.

As we approach the next election, there is a strong gang-up against us. They are plotting to field several candidates from our region in the South. Obi has emerged, Jonathan is quietly waiting in the background, and Makinde has been grandstanding. All these appear to be attempts to divide votes from the South.

So, I want to passionately appeal to everyone to be prepared to vote massively. Do you agree with me? Please, I am sincerely pleading with you.''