2027: Aregbesola slams Tinubu’s “emi lokan” as despotism, urges Nigerians to stop assault on democracy

Former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola has stated that Nigerians have a crucial opportunity in the 2027 general elections to prevent what he describes as a growing assault on democracy.

Speaking in a video shared via his official X page, as reported by The Cable, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) national secretary criticized President Bola Tinubu’s popular 2023 campaign catchphrase, “Emi lokan.” Tinubu originally used the Yoruba phrase, meaning “it’s my turn,” during a campaign stop in Abeokuta, Ogun State, to signal his bid for the presidency.

Comparing the phrase to authoritarianism, Aregbesola remarked, “Emi… that is affirming a divine authority. A divine right to rule. If that was not well understood then, I want to believe that Nigerians now know what it really means. So, we are now having it not just being merely said rhetorically but being physically demonstrated.”

“But Nigerians have the opportunity today to prevent the assault on democracy,” he added.

Despite his prominent role in grassroots mobilization for the opposition, Aregbesola—who previously defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)—was notably absent from the party’s presidential campaign council list released in September by opposition flagbearer Atiku Abubakar.