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.

READ ALSO:

• 18 Wounded in Twin Damascus Blasts During Macron’s Historic Syria Visit
• Belgium Crush USA 4-1 to Book Spain Quarter-Final Clash
• Tinubu orders probe of Google, Meta, X, AI platforms over alleged exploitation of Nigerian news content

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.

This version is more suitable for continuous online reading while maintaining SEO, readability, and a professional news style.

Why Peter Obi cannot become Nigeria’s president in 2027 — Ali Modu Sheriff