Wealth and influence will be the deciding factors in the 2027 presidential election, according to Afenifere.

Dr. Akin Fapounda, Director of Research at Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, has made a striking assertion about the 2027 presidential election, claiming that the outcome will be determined by wealth and power.

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According to Dr. Fapounda, the 31 All Progressives Congress, APC, Governors can secure victory by allocating four months' worth of Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, funds to finance their campaign, essentially buying the election.

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He alleged that the APC plans to offer voters significantly higher sums of money, specifically N20,000 and N50,000, surpassing the usual N5,000, in a bid to win the election at any cost.

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Dr. Fapounda stated, "We now have 31 Governors who are in one basket; all they need to do is to devote the four-month FAAC allocation to buy whatever is ready to be bought," implying that the party's financial might will be a decisive factor.

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He noted that people are likely to accept money from any source, saying, "Any money that comes, even if it's from the devil, people will take it," and advised voters to accept higher amounts if offered, such as N20,000 or N50,000.

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Dr. Fapounda likened the election to a war, where everything is fair game, and the party with the most resources will emerge victorious, saying, "Election is war, everything is fair when you are fighting a war."

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He also asserted that the APC is determined to win, stating, "APC wants to live and others must die," in a do-or-die situation where only the strongest will survive.

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Dr. Fapounda expressed his organisation's desire for a more civilised society, saying, "Until we change the rules and bring the temperature down to a civilised society, everything is fair."

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Afenifere has submitted a demand for restructuring and the creation of western Nigeria to the National Assembly, according to Dr. Fapounda, who argued that restructuring is not a recipe for anarchy.

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He explained that the proposed restructuring will be voluntary, with a referendum prepared by the association to ensure fairness and openness to all entities, saying, "Restructuring is not a recipe for anarchy."

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Dr. Fapounda mentioned that the Yoruba people have different dialects and entities, such as Ijebu, Osogbo, Oyo, and Ibadan, which are free to maintain their independence, and that the restructuring process will respect these differences.

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He also noted that the Yoruba people in Kogi and Kwara States may be included in the proposed western Nigeria, as they are also part of the Yoruba community.