Deji Adeyanju, a human rights activist, explained his preference for President Bola Tinubu over Peter Obi should both contest the 2027 elections, emphasizing that his choice was driven not by loyalty to the ruling All Progressives Congress but by his personal convictions about democracy, tolerance, and political conduct; during an interview on Channels Television, Adeyanju expressed concern about the intolerance and hostility he observed from some of Peter Obi’s supporters, highlighting that they often resorted to online attacks and intimidation against those who held opposing views, which he argued was detrimental to the democratic process. He lamented the toxic political environment where critics of certain candidates were labeled enemies of Nigeria or accused of being compromised, pointing to incidents such as the harassment faced by individuals like Joke Silva, who supported Tinubu, in contrast to the unchallenged support other celebrities received, thereby underscoring his belief that respect for differing opinions is essential for a healthy polity.
Adeyanju clarified that his political stance had always been independent and consistent, noting that he had voted for candidates from various parties in past elections based on his personal assessment of their suitability, including voting for Obasanjo in 1999, Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 and 2015, and Omoyele Sowore in 2023, which reinforced that his current opposition to Obi was not a result of partisanship but rather his reaction to the behavior of Obi’s supporters during the last election cycle. He stressed that opposition politics in Nigeria would only be successful through unity among its players, warning that division among opposition forces would inevitably benefit the APC, while also recalling his initial excitement about Obi’s candidacy as it represented an opportunity for the South-East region, which had never produced a president since independence, to aspire to the nation’s highest office, though his enthusiasm diminished due to what he saw as intolerant and extreme conduct within the movement.
Adeyanju further underscored his long-standing commitment to defending democracy and freedom of expression, even at great personal risk, revealing that he had faced numerous arrests and charges—including terrorism—under different administrations because of his activism, which he believed demonstrated his dedication to issue-based politics rather than party allegiance; he concluded by warning against the rise of political extremism in Nigeria, emphasizing that the political violence and intolerance witnessed during the last election cycle should not be repeated, and that Nigerians must reject any attempt to turn political disagreement into personal attacks or intimidation, asserting that his views were those of a concerned Nigerian seeking a more democratic and tolerant political landscape.
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