Dele Momodu, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, has stated that Peter Obi is capable of defeating President Bola Tinubu in the South-East and certain areas of the South-South during the 2027 presidential election.
According to Momodu, Obi, who was the Nigeria Democratic Congress’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, continues to be popular in both regions and could present a significant threat to Tinubu’s bid for re-election.
He made this remark on Wednesday during an interview on Arise Television, as he discussed the opposition’s prospects in the 2027 general election.
“I can tell you something. Soludo is the same. I can bet my life on it that Peter Obi will humiliate and disgrace Soludo in Anambra State. I have no question about that,” Momodu said.
He characterized Obi as a “rock star” in the South-East and South-South, contending that his popularity could influence Tinubu’s electoral chances in those regions.
“Peter Obi is a rock star. Where he comes from, especially in the South-East and the South-South,” he said.
Momodu, nevertheless, voiced his backing for ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who is likewise aiming to take on Tinubu in 2027 under the ADC banner.
He remarked that he would embrace appeals for opposition figures to come together, pointing out that their capacity to cooperate could shape the election’s result.
“I’m supporting Atiku, but I will be very happy when people say, ‘Oh, if you people don’t come together, you are going to lose the election,'” he said.
Momodu noted that if Obi kept his sway over the Southeast and South-South, Tinubu would be in a tough position, since the president would require considerable backing throughout Southern Nigeria while also vying for support in the North.
“The scenario is different this time. Peter Obi will humiliate Tinubu and all his supporters in the South-East and some parts of the South-South. And that’s dangerous for Tinubu,” he said.
He also stated that Tinubu would need to secure the three southern regions to strengthen his chances of victory while also seeking support in the North.
“For Tinubu to win, he needs to lock down all the three regions in the South, and he now has to go and struggle in the North, where, number one, he was supported last time by President Muhammadu Buhari,” Momodu said.
Tinubu emerged victorious in the 2023 presidential election, whereas Obi came in third, trailing Atiku, who ran under the Peoples Democratic Party banner.
During the 2023 election, Obi gained considerable backing in the South-East and portions of the South-South, while Tinubu’s win was bolstered by votes from various regions across the country.
The 2027 presidential election is anticipated to bring fresh rivalry among the major political parties, as opposition figures face pressure to form a united front to take on the ruling All Progressives Congress.
