Former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff has claimed that the people of Northern Nigeria will not support Peter Obi in the 2027 presidential election, arguing that lingering grievances from Obi’s tenure as governor of Anambra State remain a major obstacle to his acceptance in the region.
Sheriff made the remarks while speaking on the country’s political landscape ahead of the next general election, insisting that Obi’s chances of securing widespread support in the North are slim despite his growing popularity in some parts of the country.
According to the former governor, many Northerners are dissatisfied with what they perceive as Obi’s treatment of Northern interests during his administration in Anambra State. He argued that these perceptions have shaped public opinion against the former governor, making it unlikely that he would attract significant electoral backing from the region.
Sheriff maintained that the North remains a decisive voting bloc in Nigeria’s presidential elections and that any candidate seeking the country’s highest office must enjoy broad-based support across the region.
“The Northerners will never vote for Peter Obi,” Sheriff said, contending that political memories and regional sentiments would influence voting decisions in 2027.
He further suggested that electoral success in Nigeria depends on building national acceptance rather than relying on support from a particular section of the country.
Peter Obi, who served as governor of Anambra State from 2006 to 2014, was the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election. His campaign attracted widespread support, particularly among young voters and urban residents, and significantly altered Nigeria’s political landscape by breaking the longstanding dominance of the two major political parties in several parts of the country.
Since the 2023 election, Obi has remained an influential opposition figure, frequently commenting on issues of governance, economic policy, and national development while maintaining that his political ambition is driven by a desire to improve the country’s fortunes.
Sheriff’s remarks add to the growing debate over the political calculations ahead of the 2027 presidential race, as political leaders continue to assess the strengths and weaknesses of potential contenders.
The comments are also expected to provoke reactions from supporters of Obi and other political stakeholders, many of whom have consistently argued that the former Anambra governor enjoys support across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and remains a formidable contender in any future presidential election.
With political realignments already beginning to take shape ahead of 2027, analysts believe the contest for Northern votes is likely to remain a central factor in determining the outcome of the next presidential election.
