Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, says Labour Party’s Peter Obi lacks the political reach in northern Nigeria to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, Keyamo argued that Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) already have strong political structures firmly in place across the region.
Keyamo also dismissed the viability of the emerging opposition coalition using the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a platform, describing their chances as slim.
“They are going nowhere in terms of demography,” Keyamo said. “Yes, they’re putting us on our toes, but the numbers don’t favor them.”
The coalition, reportedly led by Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and other political heavyweights, aims to unify their support bases ahead of 2027 in a bid to unseat Tinubu.
However, Keyamo believes that combining forces won’t be enough to overturn APC’s grip on the presidency.
He argued that Obi’s 2023 performance was largely driven by three unique factors, which, according to him, are unlikely to repeat in 2027:
1. Religious Sentiment: Obi was the only major Christian candidate, attracting widespread support from Christian voters.
2. Regional Loyalty: The South-East felt politically marginalized and rallied behind him as an Igbo candidate.
3. Youth Movement: Many young Nigerians, disillusioned with older politicians, viewed Obi as a refreshing alternative.
“Those three demographics gave him a boost in 2023. But if Obi is made Atiku’s deputy in 2027, those same factors won’t apply and they’ll collapse,” Keyamo asserted.
He added that the APC’s entrenched presence in the North, with sitting governors and party machinery in place, gives Tinubu a distinct advantage.
The ADC coalition includes influential figures like Atiku Abubakar, Obi, former Senate President David Mark, ex-ministers Rauf Aregbesola and Rotimi Amaechi, and ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
The coalition hopes to capitalize on the over 12 million combined votes Atiku and Obi earned in 2023, a figure that surpasses the 8 million officially recorded for Tinubu.
Tinubu, who succeeded Muhammadu Buhari in 2023, is seeking re-election to complete what many regard as an unwritten regional rotation of power between North and South.
Yet, his government continues to face mounting criticism over economic hardship, record-high inflation, and cost of living concerns.
