From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
Mazi Franklin Ngoforo, Deputy National Leader, Southeast, of the Renewed Hope for Greater Nigeria (RHGN), has called on Nigerians to reject what he described as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s “politics of foreign interference” and instead rally behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Ngoforo made the call in Jos, Plateau State, on Saturday, shortly after the RHGN flagged off its campaign activities in support of President Tinubu’s re-election bid.
He accused the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) of seeking support from foreign powers and institutions in prosecuting his political battle against President Tinubu.
According to Ngoforo, reported efforts to involve American institutions, including schools, lobbying groups and the United States judiciary, in matters concerning President Tinubu amount to an attempt to draw foreign institutions into Nigeria’s domestic political and electoral affairs.
“Nigeria is a sovereign nation with its own Constitution, electoral laws, courts and institutions capable of determining questions concerning the qualification and eligibility of candidates,” Ngoforo said.
He argued that issues relating to certificates submitted to Nigerian authorities and the eligibility of candidates should be addressed and determined strictly within Nigeria’s legal and constitutional framework.
The RHGN chieftain also questioned the relevance of allegations concerning purported events in another jurisdiction several decades ago to the conduct of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.
“If there is a question about a Nigerian election, take it to the Nigerian courts and allow Nigerian law to determine it,” he said. “You cannot turn an allegation from decades ago in another country into a substitute for Nigeria’s Constitution and electoral laws.”
Ngoforo maintained that allegations concerning drug-related or financial matters allegedly investigated in the United States several decades ago do not automatically constitute Nigerian electoral offences or grounds for disqualification under Nigerian law.
Drawing attention to the issue of electoral sovereignty, he cited Romania as an example of a country that had taken allegations of foreign interference in its electoral process seriously.
“The Romanian experience demonstrates the importance of protecting the sovereignty of national elections from foreign influence,” Ngoforo said. “The Nigerian presidency cannot be outsourced to Washington.”
He further maintained that any presidential candidate seeking to lead Nigeria should concentrate on winning the confidence of Nigerian voters and presenting a credible programme of action, rather than seeking political ammunition from foreign institutions.
“If Atiku believes Nigerians do not want Tinubu, he should go to Nigerians and persuade them. If he believes Tinubu is legally unqualified, he should make his case under Nigerian law,” Ngoforo said.
He described the approach as “lazy politics” and urged Nigerians to reject any political strategy capable of exposing the country’s electoral process to undue external influence.
Ngoforo called on Nigerians to support President Tinubu based on what he described as the administration’s record, policies and ongoing development agenda.
He also charged members of the RHGN across the country to intensify grassroots mobilisation and continue canvassing support for the President’s re-election in 2027.
“The Nigerian President will not be elected in an American school, lobbying office or courtroom,” Ngoforo declared. “He will be elected by Nigerians, on Nigerian soil, through the Nigerian ballot.”
Ngoforo Urges Nigerians to Reject Atiku’s ‘Politics of Foreign Interference,’ Backs Tinubu for 2027
