Primate Elijah Ayodele, founder and leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has made a prediction concerning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s possible second term in office, saying Vice-President Kashim Shettima could assume the presidency before 2031 if Tinubu wins the 2027 presidential election.
Ayodele made the statement in a video released on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, while discussing the political outlook ahead of the 2027 general elections. He said his position was based on what he described as a divine revelation rather than a curse against the President.
According to the cleric, Tinubu would not complete a second four-year term if he were to win the 2027 election. He suggested that circumstances surrounding the President could result in an emergency transfer of presidential authority, potentially leading to Shettima becoming President.
Ayodele referenced the experience of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who died while in office in 2010 following a prolonged illness. However, his reference to Yar’Adua was presented as a possible precedent rather than a statement that the same circumstances would necessarily occur.
The cleric said:
> “If Tinubu wins the second time, he will not finish it. I stand by my word, he will not finish it.”
He further stated that an event preventing Tinubu from completing a second term could lead to what he described as an emergency government and Shettima taking over the presidency.
Ayodele Says Tinubu Needs Prayers
Ayodele also spoke about Tinubu’s wellbeing, urging people close to the President to pay attention to his health.
He called on members of Tinubu’s family to pray for him and expressed his view that the President would need prayers if he sought and secured another term.
The cleric maintained that his comments should not be interpreted as a wish for anything negative to happen to the President. Instead, he described them as a warning based on what he claimed to have perceived spiritually.
Prediction Linked to 2027 Election
The statement comes as political activity and discussions surrounding the 2027 presidential election continue to intensify.
Tinubu has not yet been declared the winner of any 2027 election, and Ayodele’s statement is a prediction, not an established future event. Whether Tinubu seeks another term, wins an election, completes a second term, or is succeeded by Shettima remains dependent on future political and constitutional developments.
Under Nigeria’s constitutional framework, if a sitting President becomes unable to continue in office under circumstances provided for by the Constitution, the Vice-President can assume the presidency subject to the applicable constitutional provisions.
Political Significance
Shettima’s position as Vice-President means that questions surrounding presidential succession can have significant constitutional and political implications. However, Ayodele’s prediction does not itself alter the constitutional status of either Tinubu or Shettima.
The comments have nevertheless added another dimension to the public conversation surrounding the 2027 election, particularly regarding the possibility of Tinubu seeking a second term and the role Shettima could play in Nigeria’s political leadership before 2031.
For now, Ayodele’s forecast remains an unverified prediction. The actual political and constitutional developments between 2027 and 2031 will determine whether any change in presidential leadership occurs.