Ohanaeze Tells Peter Obi to Drop 2027 Bid, Support Tinubu

Ohanaeze Tells Peter Obi to Drop 2027 Bid, Support Tinubu

A faction of Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by Okechukwu Isiguzoro has declared that the quest for an Igbo presidency in 2027 is not achievable under the proposed Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), arguing that the coalition lacks the national strength and political structure needed to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The faction also urged former Anambra State governor and 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to reconsider any plan to contest the 2027 presidential election under the coalition platform and instead support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.

In a statement jointly signed by Okechukwu Isiguzoro and the faction’s National Spokesman, Thompson Ohia, the group claimed that a careful assessment of Nigeria’s political landscape showed that the NDC currently operates more like a regional political movement than a truly national platform.

According to the statement, the coalition is allegedly being driven largely by the political interests of the Ijaw bloc under the influence of former Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson.

The faction maintained that the coalition lacks the nationwide structures, grassroots reach and electoral strength required to successfully challenge the APC in the next presidential election.

“In this context, Ohanaeze Ndigbo advises Mr. Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State, to carefully reconsider contesting the 2027 presidential election under the NDC,” the statement read.

The group argued that achieving an Igbo presidency would require broader national acceptance, strategic alliances across regions and a political platform capable of mobilising support nationwide.

According to the faction, relying on a weak coalition could result in another failed presidential attempt and further reduce the Southeast’s political bargaining power at the national level.

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“We therefore urge Mr. Peter Obi to reconsider his 2027 presidential ambition in the greater interest of the Igbo people,” the statement added.

The group warned that another unsuccessful outing could delay the Southeast’s quest for stronger political inclusion and development.

The statement also referenced recent political consultations involving former Southeast governors, claiming that participants acknowledged the infrastructural projects being executed by President Tinubu’s administration in the region.

The faction specifically mentioned discussions linked to a meeting reportedly coordinated by former Ebonyi State governor and current Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, in Enugu.

According to the group, some political leaders from the Southeast had expressed support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition based on ongoing infrastructure projects and federal presence in the region.

The Ohanaeze faction subsequently appealed to Peter Obi to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race and support President Tinubu in what it described as the broader interest of the Southeast and the Igbo nation.

The remarks come amid growing coalition talks among opposition politicians ahead of the 2027 elections, with several political actors reportedly exploring new alliances aimed at challenging the APC.

Peter Obi remains one of Nigeria’s most influential opposition figures following his strong performance in the 2023 presidential election, where he secured widespread support among young voters and urban populations.

The demand for a Nigerian president of Southeast extraction has continued to gain momentum in recent years, with supporters arguing that the region remains the only major geopolitical zone yet to produce a democratically elected president since Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999.

However, political analysts insist that any successful 2027 presidential election strategy for the Southeast would require extensive coalition-building, cross-regional support and strong party structures capable of competing nationally.

The latest comments by the Ohanaeze faction further highlight divisions within the Southeast political landscape over the best strategy for pursuing the long-standing goal of an Igbo presidency.

Ohanaeze Tells Peter Obi to Drop 2027 Bid, Support Tinubu