By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
Peter Obi has dismissed fears over the growing support President Bola Tinubu is receiving from state governors ahead of the 2027 elections, arguing that electoral victories are determined by voters rather than political endorsements.
The NDC presidential candidate said the 2023 election showed that widespread public support carries more weight than the backing of governors and other political power brokers.
Newstracktoday reports that Obi said this while speaking during an interview with NoireTV.
Obi recalled that he contested the last presidential election without the support of any sitting governor and still secured victories across several states.
“I won 2023 presidential election without any governor,” Obi said“It doesn’t matter whether 36 governors are with the president. I didn’t have one governor in the last election, and I won 12 states.”
Obi further alleged that he was deprived of victories in two states during the election, maintaining that his showing at the polls demonstrated that voters, rather than political structures, ultimately decide elections.
“Even after they have stolen two from me, I won 12 states. By making Abuja a state, we now have 37 states, because that is what the judgment of the Supreme Court showed,” he said
The former Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, argued that the 2027 election should focus on the welfare of Nigerians rather than political calculations and elite alliances.
He argued that millions of Nigerians are far more concerned about pressing issues such as hunger, insecurity, quality education, healthcare, and economic opportunities than the number of governors backing any particular candidate
“So it doesn’t matter whether they took all the governors. What is important, and what this election is going to be all about, is how to make Nigeria work for the poor,” Obi said
.“A Nigeria where tribe, ethnicity and religion will not be the issue. The issue will be about the welfare of the people, the education of the people and the health of the people. That’s the Nigeria we want. Nigerians are hungry today. Nigerians are looking for food.”
Obi also pledged to pursue dialogue as a means of addressing agitations and strengthening national unity if elected president in 2027.
Speaking during an interaction with Nigerians in Washington, D.C., United States, he said meaningful engagement and sacrifice would be necessary to heal divisions and rebuild trust across the country.
“To achieve the aim of unifying the country, I will listen to all agitators, harmonise them and make some sacrifices with a view to bringing the country together,” Obi said.
His comments come as political consultations and alliance talks intensify ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with opposition parties seeking to build momentum against the ruling APC.
Obi argued that regardless of the increasing political alliances and endorsements, the final verdict in any election rests with voters, not governors or influential political figures.
Source: Sun
