The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has warned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that it could lose control of nine states in the 2027 governorship elections if the party and its governors fail to strengthen their political structures ahead of the polls.

Ayodele gave the warning in a statement released by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin.

The minister said the APC should not assume that its current dominance in many states would automatically translate into victory in the next general election.

According to the cleric, the political landscape ahead of 2027 will be more challenging than previous elections, with technology expected to play a major role in shaping the outcome.

“APC cannot sweep the whole states in the coming election; it’s not possible, there will be some things that will happen in the process of the election. The election will be complicated in some ways, and technology will be one of the ways,” Ayodele said.

He identified Sokoto, Benue, Plateau, Kano, Kaduna, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger and Nasarawa as the states where the ruling party must work harder to retain power.

“Any governor who doesn’t stand well will lose, and APC must work very hard in the following states if they want to win: Sokoto, Benue, Plateau, Kano, Kaduna, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Nasarawa. APC must watch these states well,” he added.

Ayodele further cautioned that the APC should not take any of the states for granted, warning that the opposition was positioning itself to make significant gains.

“These states are not certain for APC governorship candidates to win and retain; they must work extraordinarily hard if they want to get it otherwise, it will be swept away from them,” he said.

The APC emerged from the 2023 governorship elections as the party with the highest number of governors, winning states including Lagos, Kogi, Imo, Ogun, Sokoto, Cross River, Niger, Jigawa and Yobe. However, the political atmosphere has changed considerably since then, with defections, internal party disputes and the emergence of new alliances expected to reshape the battle for many states in 2027.

Some of the states listed by Ayodele are already regarded as highly competitive. Kano, for instance, remains one of Nigeria’s biggest political prizes because of its large voting population. The APC lost the 2023 governorship election in the state, and although the state’s governor is a now a member of the APC, it is believed that Kano will remain one of the toughest battlegrounds in the next election.

Plateau and Benue have also witnessed political competition recently, while Sokoto, Kaduna, Adamawa, Nasarawa and Niger have all experienced closely fought elections that suggest no party can safely assume victory in 2027.

Political observers have also noted that even states traditionally considered APC strongholds may no longer be guaranteed victories. During the 2023 general elections, the party retained the governorship in Lagos, but lost the presidential vote in the state to Labour Party candidate Peter Obi.

Analysts say the outcome of the 2027 elections will depend not only on incumbency but also on candidate selection, party unity, campaign organisation, voter turnout and the strength of opposition parties.

Today marks the beginning of a new era in international football collaboration as the Aktobe Regional Football Association of Kazakhstan and the Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) engaged in strategic discussions to establish a long-term football development partnership.

This meeting, facilitated by GSL Global Network, reinforces its dedication to fostering significant global football relationships.

Askhat Sagitzhanuly Kalzhanov, the President of the Aktobe Regional Football Association, traveled to Lagos to meet with Hajji Gafar Liameed, the Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association.

Their discussions aimed to identify areas of mutual cooperation that would enhance football development in both regions.

Key topics included the establishment of sustainable opportunities through technical exchanges, youth development initiatives, coach education, talent identification, club partnerships, and providing international exposure for players and football administrators.

As Nigeria’s commercial capital and a prominent center for football, Lagos offers vast opportunities for collaboration. With more than 2,000 football academies, 10 professional clubs, a variety of grassroots competitions, and one of Africa’s richest reservoirs of football talent, Lagos stands out as a premier location for football development, player cultivation, and innovation.

The Lagos State Football Association has consistently positioned itself as a forward-thinking governing body by implementing strategic initiatives that support grassroots football, enhance capacity building, promote women’s football, organize youth competitions, foster international partnerships, and ensure sustainable football administration.

During his visit, President Kalzhanov participated in the ongoing Train The Trainers programme, where Serbian football instructors are conducting an intensive coaching development course for coaches in Lagos.

He conveyed his admiration for the programme’s quality and the FA’s dedication to ongoing coach education and technical excellence. This initiative strengthens the belief that investing in coaches is one of the most effective strategies to enhance the overall standard of football development.

President Kalzhanov is set to stay in Lagos for an additional week to observe further football activities, visit selected football academies and professional clubs, and continue discussions with the Lagos State Football Association regarding practical collaboration areas.

Both Associations are hopeful that this partnership will facilitate exchange programmes for coaches, players, and technical experts, while also paving the way for new avenues of international cooperation and football investment.

The Lagos State Football Association is dedicated to forging global partnerships that generate opportunities for its football ecosystem and further position Lagos as Africa’s leading centre for football excellence.