The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has warned that Nigerians could face deeper economic hardship if they elect what he described as the “wrong candidate” in the 2027 presidential election.
Ayodele, in a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, predicted that petrol could rise to N2,500 per litre and diesel to N3,000 under such a scenario.
The cleric also forecast increases in electricity tariffs, examination fees and the price of cement, alongside worsening insecurity and economic pressures.
“If Nigeria votes for the wrong candidate in 2027, petrol will rise to N2,500, and diesel will go to N3,000. There will be economic hardship, and insecurity will increase,” Ayodele said.
He further predicted the emergence of another terrorist group, warning that the development could compound Nigeria’s security challenges.
“Another new terrorist group will come up, and electricity tariffs will rise. WAEC fee will rise to N70,000, and a bag of cement will rise to N18,000 regardless of whatever Dangote does,” he said.
According to the cleric, the poor would bear the brunt of the predicted economic difficulties, while unfavourable policies, declining foreign reserves and increased corruption could further worsen conditions.
“The poor will suffer it greatly, and everything will change. There will be wrong policies, our foreign reserves will go down, corruption will increase,” he added.
Ayodele urged Nigerians to scrutinise the candidates ahead of the 2027 election rather than making voting decisions based on immediate material inducements.
“Nigerians must open their eyes before voting for any candidate in the forthcoming election. This election will determine a lot, and if care isn’t taken, Nigerians will move into another round of hardship,” he said.
The cleric said he would in the coming months disclose what he described as “God’s choice” for Nigerians and explain how citizens could identify the candidate he considers suitable.
“In the coming days, I will reveal God’s choice for Nigerians in the coming election. I will let the people know how to identify the best candidate, but it’s left to them to decide what they want to follow,” he said.
President Bola Tinubu, in an update on the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme on Saturday, directed state governments to intensify efforts to ensure that more Nigerians begin to experience measurable reductions in transportation costs from October 1.
Tinubu said the initiative followed his August 27 meeting with the 36 state governors, after which an implementation committee was established under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, chaired by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
The President cited existing reductions in transport fares in several states, including Borno, Oyo, Adamawa, Enugu, Plateau and Niger, which he attributed to CNG and electric-powered transport schemes.
Tinubu said more than 120,000 vehicles had been converted to CNG over the past three years, while Nigeria now has more than 400 certified CNG conversion centres and over 90 CNG refuelling stations.
He also rejected calls for a return to the petrol subsidy regime, arguing that it had exposed the economy to international oil-price fluctuations and consumed trillions of naira.
Yusuf Abdullahi Itas, a member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly representing Itas/Gadau State Constituency, has withdrawn from the 2027 general election. Itas, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), announced his decision in a letter dated October 5, 2026, addressed to the party’s state chairman.
In the letter titled, “Withdrawal of Candidature for the Itas/Gadau State Constituency Seat in the Bauchi State House of Assembly,” the lawmaker formally informed the party that he would no longer contest the seat in the 2027 election.
He described his decision as “entirely voluntary and personal”.
He thanked the APM leadership and its members for giving him the opportunity to represent the party.
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Itas also expressed appreciation to residents of the constituency for their encouragement and support during his time in office.
The lawmaker is the Chairman of the House Committee on Petitions and Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
His withdrawal comes less than three weeks after the Bauchi Assembly Chief Whip, Musa Wakili Nakwada, also announced that he would not contest the 2027 elections.
Welcome to Jos Ghetto Stories — a new Jos Events series created to tell the stories that are often overlooked, but should never be forgotten.
From the narrow streets of Gangare, Nasarawa, Angwan Rogo, Jenta-Adamu, Congo-Russia, Tudun Wada, Katako, Dadin Kowa, Bukuru and other communities across Jos, there are children growing up surrounded by challenges many of us may never fully understand.
Some wake up without knowing where their next meal will come from.
Some go to school with torn shoes.
Some live in crowded homes, struggle to afford basic needs, or watch their parents battle every day just to keep the family going.
And some are already beginning to believe that because they were born into hardship, hardship is all life has to offer them.
But we are here to tell them something different.
YOU CAN STILL BECOME GREAT.
Your address does not determine your destiny.
The street you grew up on does not decide the height you can reach.
Poverty may be part of your story, but it does not have to be the final chapter.
Look at Jos.
This city has produced and nurtured people who have gone on to make their mark far beyond the streets where their journeys began.
John Obi Mikel and Ogenyi Onazi, Ahmed Musa went from Jos to becoming aome of Nigeria’s most recognisable footballers, they all grew up from the Ghetto streets of Jos and made it in life through football to the point of representing Nigeria at the highest level.
Jeremiah Gyang, M.I Abaga and Ice Prince carried the sound and creativity of Jos into the Nigerian music industry and beyond.
P-Square and 2Baba are among the major names whose stories are connected to Jos.
Saint Obi,Dayo Okeniyi took their journey from Jos into international acting, while filmmakers Dimbo Atiya and Kenneth Gyang, have used film to tell stories that travel far beyond home.
And there are many more whose names may not yet be famous—but whose stories prove that greatness can rise from ordinary beginnings. 
So when we walk through the streets of Jos and meet these children, we are not looking at “ghetto children.”
We are looking at future doctors, engineers, footballers, musicians, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, teachers, leaders, creatives and nation builders.
We are looking at potential.
We are looking at dreams waiting for an opportunity.
Because sometimes, all a child needs is somebody to look them in the eyes and say:
“I believe in you.”
That is what Jos Ghetto Stories is about.
We will tell the stories of the streets.
We will show the struggles.
We will celebrate the talent.
We will listen to the dreams.
And most importantly, we will remind every young person watching that you can become the best version of yourself, regardless of where you started.
Your parents may not have everything.
Your environment may not be perfect.
You may not have the opportunities others have.
But never allow your circumstances to convince you that you cannot become somebody.
The world may see a child from the slum.
We see a future star.
The world may see a difficult beginning.
We see a story waiting to become extraordinary.
This is Jos Ghetto Stories.
Stories from the streets.
Stories of struggle.
Stories of hope.
Stories of talent.
Stories of resilience.
Stories of people who refuse to let their circumstances define them.
Because from the streets of Jos, greatness can rise.
And perhaps, the next great story is the child standing beside you.