The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has criticised the First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, over her response to the recent abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo State, saying she failed to demonstrate the qualities expected of a mother during the crisis.

Speaking during an engagement with women on Friday, Ayodele expressed disappointment over what he described as the First Lady’s silence on the incident, warning that such actions could negatively affect President Bola Tinubu’s chances in the 2027 general elections.

According to the cleric, the First Lady should have publicly advocated for the safe return of the abducted children, similar to the role played by former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan during national crises involving schoolchildren.

“Remi Tinubu, you will make Tinubu lose the 2027 election. You did not behave like a mother at all. You should have done what Jonathan’s wife did,” Ayodele said.

“You never protested and demanded that these Oyo schoolchildren be brought back. Instead, you were busy distributing cars for political campaigns. I will tell you the truth.”

Ayodele’s comments come amid public concern over the abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo State and ongoing calls for intensified efforts to secure their release and improve security across the country.

The cleric also referenced the First Lady’s recent donation of vehicles to women leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in five opposition-controlled states.

The vehicles were presented during the inauguration of the Tinubu Torchbearers (TTB), a pro-Tinubu support group, held at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja.

The donation has attracted mixed reactions from members of the public, with some questioning the timing of the gesture in light of prevailing security challenges, while supporters have described it as part of efforts to strengthen grassroots political mobilisation ahead of future elections.

Neither the Office of the First Lady nor the Presidency had responded to Ayodele’s remarks as of the time of filing this report.