Former presidential adviser Akin Osuntokun has predicted that President Bola Tinubu could perform better in Northern Nigeria than many of his critics anticipate ahead of the 2027 general election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Osuntokun argued that despite growing concerns over insecurity, economic hardship and the President’s perceived decline in popularity, Tinubu remains competitive in several northern states.

The Director of Politics at Arise News made the assessment during an interview on the television station on Monday, while examining regional voting patterns and the electoral prospects of major contenders in the forthcoming presidential election.

According to him, the performance of the leading candidates across the North suggests that the political situation may not be as unfavourable to Tinubu as some observers have predicted.

“Looking at all the three candidates, they’re relatively doing well in the North, I can’t see any surprise. The only aspect of it that I’m surprised at is that the president is fairly competitive in the North, at least against the background of the kind of aggressive posturing and saying it won’t get anything there,” he said.

Osuntokun added that the electoral picture indicated that Tinubu could secure considerable support in the region, contrary to claims that voters in the North had broadly rejected his administration.

He noted that, among the three presidential contenders under consideration, Tinubu appeared to have reasons to be optimistic about his electoral prospects based on the voting patterns being analysed.

The political analyst identified Borno, Kwara and Kogi states as areas where Tinubu could emerge victorious, while describing the contest in several other northern states as competitive.

“He’s even trending as a winner in Borno State. Borno State, Kwara, and Kogi State, and in almost nine or 12, or let’s say the nine other states, it’s competitive,” Osuntokun stated.

He further suggested that the President could improve on his performance in some parts of the country where he failed to secure as many votes as expected during the 2023 presidential election.

Osuntokun specifically highlighted Lagos State as an important electoral battleground where Tinubu could record a stronger showing in 2027, noting that the state’s substantial voting population could significantly influence the overall outcome.

“So, for me, I think he did fairly well. And this time around, he will probably get more votes from certain areas that he didn’t get that kind of sufficient votes in the 2023 election. So, he’s going to do much, much better, you know, in Lagos State this time around, and the votes in Lagos are quite substantial,” he said.

Although he acknowledged that insecurity and economic hardship remained major challenges confronting the Tinubu administration, Osuntokun maintained that the emerging electoral trends suggested the President could still attract significant support despite public concerns over these issues.

“The insecurity and all whatever, hardship and things like that, but that it is there, and yet you are getting this kind of trend there,” he added.

His assessment comes as political parties and presidential contenders continue positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general election, with regional voting patterns expected to play a crucial role in determining the outcome.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been handed a 30-day suspension and fined €255 by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) following his departure from Portugal’s national team camp in September.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The 41-year-old forward reportedly left the squad after being an unused substitute in the match against Norway and subsequently learning that he would not be included in the starting lineup against Denmark on October 1.

Ronaldo later issued a lengthy statement defending his decision, accusing Portugal coach Jorge Jesus of going back on his word on two occasions and describing the situation as an “absolute breach of trust”.

However, the suspension is not expected to affect his participation in Portugal’s upcoming fixtures, as the ban took effect on the day of the Denmark encounter. The Al-Nassr captain has already served 19 days of the suspension.

Portugal are scheduled to face Denmark again in the Nations League on November 14 before travelling to Wales three days later.

In explaining its decision, the FPF disciplinary committee said it took several factors into consideration, including Ronaldo’s remorse, his contributions to football and his achievements throughout his career.

The committee also disclosed that the veteran forward submitted his curriculum vitae, highlighting his awards and professional accomplishments, as part of his defence during the disciplinary proceedings.

Ronaldo reportedly accepted responsibility for leaving the national team camp and apologised to his teammates and supporters. He also acknowledged that disciplinary action against him was justified.

Meanwhile, Jesus has denied reaching any agreement with the former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward but maintained that a return to the national team remains possible.

FPF president Pedro Proença has also expressed the federation’s willingness to welcome the Portugal captain back once the disciplinary issue has been resolved.

Speaking to Portuguese publication Record, Proença reportedly described the federation’s position as a “strong desire” to see Ronaldo return to the national team.

Despite the controversy, Ronaldo remains Portugal’s all-time leading male international goalscorer and appearance holder, with 146 goals in 234 appearances.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner played a pivotal role in Portugal’s triumph at Euro 2016 and the country’s two UEFA Nations League title victories.

Ronaldo joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr in December 2022 on a reported annual salary of £177 million before signing a contract extension in 2025.

Bayern Munich will be without one of their key attacking stars when they welcome Arsenal for a high-profile UEFA Champions League encounter on Wednesday.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶