Dare Babalola
Yoruba Nation activist Sunday Igboho has issued a stern warning to former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, cautioning them against campaigning in the South-West region ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Igboho, a vocal supporter of President Bola Tinubu, emphasised that the South-West is Tinubu’s stronghold and warned against any attempts to undermine his influence.
In a strongly-worded statement he made on a viral video, Igboho threatened to frustrate supporters of the two politicians planning to campaign for them in the Yoruba region for the forthcoming election.
“No more useless Atiku or Obi in Yorubaland. If you know that you are crazy, campaign for one Atiku or Obi in Yoruba region,” Igboho declared.
Igboho, who declared total support for President Tinubu in the region even beyond 2027, vowed to ensure Tinubu gets a third term.
“Tinubu for second term; beyond 2027. 100 per cent. After eight years of Asiwaju, we’ll pray for extra years. Throughout Lagos and Yorubaland, it’s for Asiwaju. We will all vote for him,” he added.
Igboho’s threat to frustrate opposition politicians in Yorubaland came barely two months after returning to Nigeria from exile on January 26, 2026, following the removal of his name from the Federal Government’s list of wanted persons.
The activist’s return to Nigeria came after prominent traditional rulers, including the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; and the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Francis Alao, among prominent Nigerians appealed to Tinubu on his behalf.
The Yoruba Nation agitator fled Nigeria on July 1, 2021, after a raid on his Ibadan, Oyo State, residence by officers of the State Security Services and the Nigerian Army over allegations of stockpiling arms and ammunition.
The house raid came amid Igboho’s intense campaign to dislodge armed Fulani herdsmen occupying forests in the South-West who were also killing and abducting farmers.
The activist was declared wanted, denied a Nigerian passport and his bank accounts frozen under the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, despite court rulings in his favour.
Efforts to get the reactions of the media aides of Atiku and Obi did not yield as they are yet to respond to the messages sent to them or pick their calls at the time of filing this report.
