Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) flagbearer in the 2023 presidential election, has been advised against relying solely on his connections with northern elites in any alleged merger talks ahead of the 2027 elections.
As reported by The Punch, the apex pan-Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, gave this warning while reacting to Obi’s meeting with Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other bigwigs of the opposition party in Nigeria, especially from the northern region.
Recall that Peter Obi said the closed-door meeting with Atiku and other PDP bigwigs was to discuss the state of the nation and how to reduce Nigerians’ suffering.
In a swift reaction, Ohanaeze expressed surprise and scrutiny over Obiâs recent political activities, which have hinted at potential opposition party alignments aimed at unseating President Tinubu in 2027, The Guardian reported.
In a statement issued on Thursday, May 16, by its secretary-general, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the Igbo group noted that Obiâs participation in Muslim ceremonies in recent times, have been perceived as steps to fortify his political stature in the North ahead of the 2027 polls.
However, the group cautioned Obi regarding the inherent risks and uncertainties that accompany his relentless pursuit of Northern connections, ThisDay reported.
In a similar development, TimesNow.com.ng reported that Reno Omokri, a former presidential aide, said no northerner will agree to contest the presidency alongside Peter Obi in the 2027 elections.
According to Omokri, Atiku Abubakar, NNPP flagbearer Rabiu Kankwaso, and the former Kaduna state governor Nasir El-Rufai will not be willing to work with Obi as many speculated.
Omokri wondered about the significance of Obiâs rapprochement with Northern powerbrokers in the PDP. He stressed that âright now, Peter Obi (he) is tainted.â
Source: TimesNow.com.ng
