Primate Elijah Ayodele, the leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that the release of documents being discussed in a United States court could affect his ambition to seek a second term in the 2027 presidential election.
Ayodele made the statement on Tuesday through his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, while speaking about the ongoing controversy surrounding documents allegedly linked to the President.
The documents have become a subject of legal and political attention in the United States, with African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Abubakar Atiku, among those pushing for their release.
According to Ayodele, influential individuals are behind the efforts concerning the documents and their eventual release could create serious political problems for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election.
The cleric said the President might not fully understand the possible consequences of the matter, alleging that some people around him were giving him assurances that could prove unreliable.
He further claimed that the United States remained one of the major challenges facing Tinubu because the documents were reportedly available and could be made public if the American authorities decided to do so.
Ayodele said Tinubu would need to take additional steps to prevent the documents from being released, warning that their publication could have far-reaching effects on the political situation in Nigeria.
He also predicted that the release could lead to a major political crisis, including renewed discussions about an interim government and possible effects on the 2027 electoral process.
The warning comes as opposition politicians continue to intensify their efforts ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with several groups seeking ways to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Atiku has previously been involved in efforts to obtain access to records concerning Tinubu in the United States, making the issue part of the wider political debate surrounding the next presidential election.
However, the claims made by Ayodele remain his own prediction and should not be treated as established facts. Any allegations contained in or connected to the disputed documents would need to be verified through the relevant legal and official processes.
Tinubu is expected to seek another term in office in 2027, while opposition parties and their candidates are working on strategies to challenge his re-election bid.