Senior Pastor of Kingsway International Christian Centre, Matthew Ashimolowo, has expressed strong doubts about the chances of former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, securing significant votes in Northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Ashimolowo, speaking during an interview on Outside the Box, said Obi’s electoral appeal in the North remains extremely weak, arguing that deep-seated national divisions have not healed.
According to him, it would take an extraordinary outcome for Obi to secure up to five per cent of votes in the core northern states.
“The possibility of Peter Obi getting five per cent in 12 core northern states would be a miracle,” he said.
“He is a fantastic and gifted man, and he has proven capacity, but the reality is that he cannot win five per cent in the North.”
Obi contested the 2023 presidential election as the Labour Party candidate, finishing third behind President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Despite his defeat, Obi retained strong backing among young voters and urban populations nationwide, with his supporters maintaining that he remains a viable contender for future elections.
As political activities towards 2027 gather momentum, Obi has indicated interest in contesting again, though uncertainty surrounds the platform he may adopt.
He is currently associated with a broader opposition coalition that includes Atiku Abubakar and other political figures seeking to unseat President Tinubu.
The coalition has adopted the African Democratic Congress as its platform, but questions remain over whether Obi will contest under the ADC or return to the Labour Party.
The ADC has acknowledged internal challenges regarding the alignment of key presidential aspirants.
Party spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi, speaking on Arise Television, said reconciling the ambitions of Atiku, Obi and other aspirants poses a challenge but does not threaten democratic stability.
He explained that the party is currently focused on building its structures nationwide rather than discussing presidential tickets.
According to Abdullahi, several aspirants have already indicated interest in contesting under the ADC, and the party may seek consensus when the time comes or allow a competitive primary if consensus fails.
Meanwhile, Obi has previously raised concerns about unresolved issues within the coalition, including zoning and rotation arrangements.
While Atiku has formally joined the ADC, Obi is yet to register with the party, leaving his political pathway to the coalition’s ticket unclear.
