Peter Obi on Alert as Opposition Coalition Eyes Popular Southern Candidate for 2027

Peter Obi on Alert as Opposition Coalition Eyes Popular Southern Candidate for 2027

 

 

 

As Nigeria’s political landscape continues to take shape ahead of the 2027 general elections, prominent opposition figures are signaling a potential realignment that could pose a significant challenge to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.

 

At the heart of these developments is growing speculation that the coalition mobilizing against the current administration may field a popular southern candidate—possibly drawing the attention of political heavyweight and former presidential contender, Peter Obi.

 

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Speaking during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Tuesday, former All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Salihu Lukman outlined the coalition’s roadmap for selecting a credible presidential candidate.

 

Lukman emphasized that while the coalition remains committed to fairness and internal democracy, the issue of regional representation—particularly the South’s turn to lead—is firmly on the agenda.

 

“There is no doubt a southern candidate is being considered,” Lukman said. “We’re fully aware of the equity question and the historical rotation of power. It is the turn of the South to spend another eight years. But we won’t compromise the democratic process to achieve that.”

 

Lukman, who once served as the APC’s Vice President (North), revealed that the coalition’s top priority is to build a solid party structure before entertaining individual political ambitions. “The most fundamental issue is that elections must take place within the party. Whoever has majority followership should be the candidate,” he said.

 

While he refrained from naming any potential aspirants, political analysts see his comments as a signal to southern figures like Peter Obi, whose popularity surged during the 2023 elections under the Labour Party banner. Obi has remained a visible figure in national discourse and continues to command substantial grassroots support, particularly among youth and southern voters.

 

Lukman underscored the importance of a credible and independent party leadership—one capable of standing firm against undue influence from power brokers. He warned that without strong internal checks, “people with ambition will take over the structures of the party,” leading to a repeat of past mistakes.

 

He added that the coalition seeks to elect a national chairman with “the same profile as the president,” capable of speaking truth to power. “You can’t have a party leader who is part of the president’s protocol team. We need people of integrity who are not desperate for appointments,” he said.

 

The coalition is currently focused on selecting executives who are free of presidential aspirations, as a safeguard against conflicts of interest that could undermine its unity and credibility.

 

Lukman acknowledged the complexity of these negotiations but insisted that the coalition is determined to get it right. “The first real test will be in the caliber of leadership we announce when the party structure is finalized,” he stated.

 

As the political chessboard continues to shift, all eyes are now on Peter Obi and other potential southern contenders. Whether Obi throws his hat in the ring remains to be seen—but the groundwork is clearly being laid for a contest that could reshape Nigeria’s political future.