The spiritual leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has cautioned the All Progressives Congress against letting go of Aishatu Ahmed, popularly known as Binani, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The cleric said Binani holds significant political potential and could deliver surprising results if given the party’s ticket again.
“Adamawa state, the woman that runs for APC. If APC give her the ticket again, this woman would bring out a surprise. APC should not allow her to leave their party. Hold her at the high esteem and don’t joke with her,” Ayodele said.
He continued, “This woman can give you a surprise in Adamawa if PDP did not get a very serious candidate. This woman can go an extra-mile.”
Binani was the APC governorship candidate in the 2023 election in Adamawa State, where she contested against the incumbent governor, Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The election drew widespread attention when the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Yunusa Ari, made an unlawful declaration of Binani as the winner before collation was concluded.
The declaration was quickly nullified by the Independent National Electoral Commission, and Ari was suspended. Then-President Muhammadu Buhari ordered an investigation into Ari’s conduct and that of security officials present during the announcement. Despite the controversy, the final official results confirmed Governor Fintiri’s victory with 430,861 votes, while Binani secured 398,738 votes.
Binani challenged the outcome in court, but in January 2024, the Supreme Court dismissed her appeal. Delivering the lead judgement, Justice John Okoro ruled that the appeal lacked merit and affirmed that Ari had no legal authority to declare election results.
Despite these legal setbacks, Primate Ayodele maintains that Binani remains a formidable political figure. His statement is seen as a call to the APC to recognize and support strong female candidates in future elections.
Amid rumors of defection, Binani recently reaffirmed her commitment to the APC. At an event organized by her support group, “Gladiators for Binani Only,” held in Yola, she was represented by Mijinyawa Kugama, who refuted claims that she or her supporters had left the party.
Earlier, Ayodele had also commented on the political future of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central. In a separate video shared on his verified X account, he advised her to “seek the face of God,” claiming there were hidden plots aimed at undermining her position.
Ayodele’s comments continue to generate attention within political circles as the nation gradually shifts focus toward the 2027 elections.
