Human rights activist Deji Adeyanju has explained why he would choose President Bola Tinubu over Peter Obi if both were to run in the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Friday, Adeyanju clarified that his stance was not due to loyalty to the All Progressives Congress (APC), but based on his personal convictions about democracy, political tolerance, and civic engagement.
“Why would someone like me support the APC? Support the APC for what? But if Peter Obi is the opposition candidate, I would vote for Tinubu,” he said.
Adeyanju criticised what he described as the intolerant attitude of many of Obi’s supporters, claiming they often resort to personal attacks and dismiss opposing views.
“We can’t have a situation where anyone who doesn’t support a particular candidate is labelled an enemy of Nigeria or accused of being bribed. That kind of political extremism is dangerous,” he said.
Dismissing allegations that he is aligned with the APC to weaken the opposition, Adeyanju said his political choices have always been based on personal judgment and principles, not party loyalty. He pointed out that he has voted across party lines in the past.
“I have never voted for a candidate I believed was unfit,” he said. “In 1999, I voted for Obasanjo. In 2011 and 2015, I supported Goodluck Jonathan. In 2023, I voted for Omoyele Sowore because I couldn’t support either of the main candidates.”
Adeyanju said his main issue with Obi stems from the conduct of his supporters during the last election cycle, whom he accused of online harassment and attempts to silence dissenting voices.
“We must clean up our political space. People should be free to support whoever they want without being harassed,” he said. “Look at what was done to Joke Silva. Just because she supported Tinubu, she was vilified, while other entertainers who backed different candidates faced no such attacks.”
He emphasised that healthy opposition is only possible when major political actors unite, warning that division among them would continue to benefit the ruling APC.
Adeyanju also admitted that he was initially enthusiastic about Obi’s candidacy, especially as it offered the South-East a credible shot at the presidency. But he said his excitement faded as he observed certain troubling trends within the movement.
“The idea of a president from the South-East was appealing, and I was excited at first. But as time went on, I couldn’t ignore the toxic behavior coming from some quarters,” he said.
Reflecting on his years of activism, Adeyanju said he has consistently fought for democracy and freedom of expression—even when it put him at personal risk.
“We’ve risked our lives and freedom for this country. I’ve been arrested multiple times under different administrations. At one point, I was nearly charged with terrorism. I’ve faced all kinds of politically motivated accusations,” he said.
He insisted that his criticism of Obi should not be misinterpreted as support for the APC, stressing that his commitment remains to issue-based, non-partisan politics.
“My position is not about parties. It’s about the principles I stand for. Political extremism cannot be allowed to dominate our national discourse. We all saw what that led to during the last election,” Adeyanju concluded.
