Former Labour Party chieftain Valentine Ozigbo has expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would win if a free, fair and credible election were conducted in Nigeria.
Speaking during a political discussion, Ozigbo stated that Tinubu could secure victory not necessarily because of widespread public approval of his administration, but partly due to the weakness of the opposition and the expectations some Nigerians still have about what the president could achieve if given more time in office.
According to him, elections are not always won simply because voters love a candidate, but sometimes because they reject the available alternatives.
He noted that opposition figures, including Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, missed several opportunities to strengthen their political structures after the 2023 Nigerian presidential election.
Ozigbo added that stronger political investments and grassroots engagement during off-cycle elections in states like Imo State, Edo State and Bayelsa State could have helped the opposition build a stronger base ahead of future national contests.
He argued that these missed opportunities have weakened the opposition to the point where some observers believe there may be no formidable challenger capable of defeating Tinubu in another election cycle.
Ozigbo further stated that if the president demonstrates a genuine commitment to restoring Nigeria and improving governance, some critics could even become supporters of his agenda.
“If we have a good understanding that will restore Nigeria in the manner we envisage, I will be his champion,” he said, adding that under such circumstances Tinubu would even secure his vote at his polling unit.
