Politics
Why Peter Obi cannot become Nigeria’s president in 2027 — Ali Modu Sheriff
Why Peter Obi cannot become Nigeria’s president in 2027 — Ali Modu Sheriff
Former Borno State governor and former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has explained why he believes Peter Obi will struggle to win Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, arguing that the former Anambra State governor lacks the broad national support needed to secure victory.
Sheriff made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, where he also defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, praised the removal of fuel subsidy, and urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to respect the principle of power rotation by shelving any presidential ambition until after 2031.
His comments come amid growing political realignments ahead of the January 2027 general election, with Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Obi of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Atiku of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) widely seen as leading contenders for Nigeria’s highest office.
Sheriff said he was convinced that Peter Obi would struggle to win substantial support across Northern Nigeria, insisting that the region would play a decisive role in determining the outcome of the election.
According to him, Obi has repeatedly criticised President Tinubu’s administration but has failed to publicly condemn the activities of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which Sheriff accused of pursuing Nigeria’s disintegration.
“Peter Obi never condemned, up till today, those in Eastern Nigeria who wanted to divide the country and called for sit-at-home. I am not worried about Peter Obi at all because I know Northerners will never vote for Peter Obi. They have known better now,” Sheriff said.
The former governor also alleged that Obi’s tenure as governor of Anambra State created resentment among many Northerners, claiming this would affect his electoral prospects in the region.
Sheriff further claimed that some political stakeholders in Kano had expressed reservations about supporting any presidential ticket involving Obi. These are allegations made by Sheriff during the interview and have not been independently verified.
The APC chieftain also questioned Obi’s movement across different political parties, arguing that politicians seeking Nigeria’s presidency should demonstrate consistency and commitment to national unity rather than pursue what he described as sectional political interests.
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He maintained that anyone aspiring to lead Nigeria must build trust across all regions, religions and ethnic groups, stressing that the country’s diversity requires inclusive leadership and broad-based political alliances.
Responding to recent criticisms of President Tinubu by Obi over insecurity and economic hardship, Sheriff defended the administration’s policies.
He described the removal of fuel subsidy as one of the most important economic decisions taken by the current government, arguing that it prevented Nigeria from facing severe fiscal challenges.
According to Sheriff, the policy has significantly increased monthly allocations to state governments, giving governors more resources to invest in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture and other developmental projects.
He noted that some states now receive monthly allocations running into tens of billions of naira, compared with what many states received over several years before the subsidy removal.
On insecurity, Sheriff acknowledged that security remains a constitutional responsibility of the Federal Government but argued that state governments also have important roles to play.
He said governors, local government authorities, traditional rulers, religious leaders and community stakeholders must work together with federal security agencies to tackle insecurity effectively.
According to him, Nigeria’s security challenges predate the Tinubu administration and should not be blamed solely on the President.
Sheriff also commented on the presidential ambition of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, describing him as qualified to lead Nigeria but insisting that the country should continue to observe the informal principle of rotating the presidency between the North and the South.
He argued that following former President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure, the South should be allowed to complete another eight years before power returns to the North.
“Atiku Abubakar is eminently qualified to be president, but this is not the North’s turn,” Sheriff said.
Expressing confidence in the ruling party, Sheriff said the APC would intensify its mobilisation efforts to secure President Tinubu’s re-election.
He described democracy as “a game of numbers” and said the ruling party would not take victory for granted despite its confidence.
Sheriff added that he enjoys regular access to President Tinubu and would continue to offer what he considers sincere advice whenever necessary.
Sheriff’s comments are expected to generate fresh debate within Nigeria’s political landscape as parties continue consultations, coalition talks and grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general election.
While his remarks reflect his personal assessment of the race, they also highlight the key issues likely to shape political discourse in the coming months, including national unity, security, economic reforms, regional support and the principle of power rotation.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Peter Obi nor the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had issued an official response to Sheriff’s remarks.
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Why Peter Obi cannot become Nigeria’s president in 2027 — Ali Modu Sheriff
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Politics
2027: Ajaero Questions Tinubu, Atiku, Obi’s Economic Approach, Highlights Adebayo’s Ideas
2027: Ajaero Questions Tinubu, Atiku, Obi’s Economic Approach, Highlights Adebayo’s Ideas
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has questioned the economic positions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, while saying the ideas of Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo deserve serious attention ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Ajaero made the comments during an interview with Seun Okinbaloye on Mic On, where he was asked about the economic policies of Atiku and other leading figures in the 2027 race.
Rather than focusing solely on Atiku’s economic proposals, the NLC president highlighted the positions of Adebayo and Accord Party presidential candidate Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, saying he had examined their ideas and was willing to listen to them.
“I have looked at Gbenga Hashim’s position and I think he’s an expert to an extent. I also looked at Adebayo. I may listen to them,” Ajaero said.
He subsequently contrasted the economic approaches of Adebayo and Olawepo-Hashim with those of Tinubu, Atiku and Obi.
“Peter Obi, Atiku and Asiwaju, they all have the same position and they have shown that they are market people from far right,” he said.
Ajaero’s remarks have drawn attention to the economic debate ahead of the 2027 election, particularly as issues such as inflation, fuel prices, electricity costs, unemployment, wages and declining purchasing power remain major concerns for Nigerians.
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Adebayo, who is contesting the 2027 presidency on the SDP platform, has built his campaign around social democracy, increased domestic production, job creation and a stronger role for government in providing public services and expanding economic opportunities.
The SDP candidate has also made energy reform a major part of his campaign, arguing that high energy costs and inadequate electricity supply continue to constrain households, businesses and industrial production.
His policy blueprint, Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity: Governance & Accelerated Development — Blueprint of a New Nigeria, 2027–2031, proposes mechanisms for monitoring government performance through measurable targets, periodic assessments and implementation milestones.
Adebayo has also advocated greater emphasis on domestic production, with the argument that Nigeria must reduce its dependence on imports and foreign exchange while strengthening local industries and productive capacity.
Olawepo-Hashim, whom Ajaero also mentioned, has similarly made energy and industrialisation central to his economic programme. His proposed Energy First agenda focuses on increasing domestic energy production, expanding refining capacity and reducing energy costs.
Ajaero’s comments do not amount to a formal endorsement of Adebayo or Olawepo-Hashim for the 2027 presidential election. Rather, the NLC president said their economic proposals were sufficiently different from those of the politicians he discussed to warrant further engagement.
The intervention comes as political parties and presidential candidates increasingly position their economic policies at the centre of the 2027 campaign, with competing proposals on fuel pricing, taxation, electricity, wages, industrialisation, employment and social protection.
For the NLC, which represents organised labour and has been at the forefront of debates over wages and the impact of economic reforms on workers, the direction of the next administration’s economic policy is expected to remain a major issue ahead of the election.
With the 2027 political contest gathering momentum, the competing economic visions of the presidential candidates are likely to face increased scrutiny from organised labour, businesses and voters as parties intensify their campaigns.
2027: Ajaero Questions Tinubu, Atiku, Obi’s Economic Approach, Highlights Adebayo’s Ideas
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Politics
2027: Soludo Govt Accuses Peter Obi Of Plot To Destroy APGA
2027: Soludo Govt Accuses Peter Obi Of Plot To Destroy APGA
The Anambra State Government has declared former governor Peter Obi and his Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) a threat to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) ahead of the 2027 presidential election, urging APGA supporters to resist the opposition party.
The state government made the declaration in a message issued through its New Media office on Monday, accusing Obi of working to weaken the party that gave him the platform to become governor of Anambra.
The government described its message as a “betrayal alert” to APGA supporters, alleging that Obi had been seeking to undermine the party since leaving it in 2014.
It urged party members in the state not to be swayed by Obi’s current political influence, arguing that APGA remained the political platform responsible for his emergence as governor.
The government said, “Since 2014, Obi has had one mission: to destroy the party that made him,” while calling on APGA members to defend the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
The development comes amid an increasingly tense political relationship between Obi and the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
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Obi governed Anambra from 2006 to 2014 on the APGA platform before leaving the party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He later joined the Labour Party, under which he contested the 2023 presidential election, before becoming the presidential candidate of the NDC ahead of the 2027 election.
The former governor remains an influential political figure in the South-East, particularly in Anambra, where his 2023 presidential campaign recorded strong support.
The Anambra government’s latest position also comes against the backdrop of APGA’s alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The state government has previously defended its relationship with the President and maintained that supporting Tinubu does not conflict with APGA’s interests.
However, Obi’s emergence as the NDC presidential candidate has created a new political challenge for APGA, particularly because of his longstanding influence among voters in Anambra and the wider South-East.
The NDC has rejected the allegations against Obi, accusing the Soludo administration of attacking the former governor because of concerns about his popularity.
NDC Director of New Media and Strategic Communications, Theo Abu Agada, described the state government’s position as political blackmail and maintained that the party was confident of its prospects in the 2027 election.
The latest exchange has further widened the political divide between the camps of Peter Obi and Chukwuma Soludo, with both sides increasingly positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.
For APGA, the emergence of Obi and the NDC presents a particularly sensitive political challenge because of the former governor’s history with the party and his continued influence in Anambra.
The 2027 election is therefore expected to produce a major political contest in the state, with APGA seeking to retain its influence while Obi’s NDC attempts to convert his personal support base into wider electoral backing.
2027: Soludo Govt Accuses Peter Obi Of Plot To Destroy APGA
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Politics
Nine Zamfara Lawmakers Dump APC for ADC Ahead of 2027
Nine Zamfara Lawmakers Dump APC for ADC Ahead of 2027
Nine members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have left the All Progressives Congress (APC) and defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The lawmakers cited concerns over insecurity, internal party divisions and what they described as inadequate attention to the welfare of residents and their constituents as reasons for their decision.
The lawmakers are Aliyu Ango Kagara, representing Talata Mafara South; Muktar Nasir, representing Kaura Namoda North; Faruk Dosara Musa, representing Maradun I; Basiru Bello, representing Bungudu West; Bashir A. Masama, representing Bukkuyum North; Ibrahim T. Tukur, representing Bakura; Nasiru Abdullahi, representing Maru North; Yusuf Muhammad Anka, representing Anka; and Bashar Aliyu, representing Gummi I.
Speaking on behalf of the lawmakers, Kagara said their concerns about the security situation in Zamfara had contributed to disagreements with the state government.
He said the lawmakers had raised the issue of insecurity on the floor of the Assembly, but that their position led to disagreements with Governor Dauda Lawal and their subsequent suspension.
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Kagara also alleged that joining the APC did not resolve their grievances, claiming that some party leaders failed to give them what they considered a fair hearing.
Earlier, some of the lawmakers announced their resignation from the APC in separate letters dated October 4, 2026.
In the letters, the lawmakers cited issues including insecurity, alleged injustice, internal divisions, uncertainty and concerns about governance.
One of the lawmakers also alleged that members of the Assembly had gone about 32 months without receiving salaries, allowances and other entitlements.
The claims about unpaid entitlements and other grievances are allegations by the affected lawmakers and have not been independently established in the reports.
The APC in Zamfara initially said it had not received official copies of the resignation letters. The party’s publicity secretary, Ibrahim Birnin-Magaji, said the documents had been seen on social media and that the party was awaiting formal communication through the appropriate party structures.
The defection represents a significant political realignment in Zamfara ahead of the 2027 elections, with the movement of the lawmakers potentially affecting the political balance within the state legislature.
Nine Zamfara Lawmakers Dump APC for ADC Ahead of 2027
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