Lagos APC warns Peter Obi as election momentum fades ahead of 2027

 Pat Utomi, professor of political economy, has warned that attempts to manipulate the 2027 elections could trigger serious unrest in Nigeria.  He added that growing public concern on electoral malpractice could have severe consequences.   In a post on X on Sunday, Utomi said he encountered strong interest in electoral integrity during an informal town hall meeting in Manchester, United Kingdom, where he attended a lunch to which Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), was invited.   Utomi said the gathering turned into a discussion on Nigeria’s political challenges, with participants expressing concern over what they perceived as the confidence of some public officials in their ability to manipulate the 2027 elections.     “I am in the middle of an accidental town hall meeting in Manchester in the UK. I came to a lunch to which Peter Obi was invited. I found food I looked forward to deferred for questions on the trouble with Nigeria,” he wrote.   He said several questions centred on concerns that some politicians appeared to believe the outcome of the 2027 elections was already settled.   “Many of the questions suggest worry about the boldness of public officials in projecting rigging with results of elections of 2027 considered in the pocket,” Utomi said.     The professor added that participants wanted to know how they could contribute to preventing electoral malpractice.   “They were energised to ask for how they could fight rigging,” he stated.   Utomi warned that attempts to undermine the will of voters could provoke a severe national crisis.   “The determination to do whatever will prevent election malpractice suggests we may see a civil war if power tries to muscle the will of the people this time,” he said.     Utomi has publicly supported Obi’s ambition to become president in 2027 but has said he would withdraw his support if the former Anambra governor accepts a vice-presidential position.   In an earlier post on X, Utomi said his backing was specifically for Obi to contest the presidency, rather than serve as another candidate’s running mate.   “Peter Obi has my support for the presidency. But my position is clear, I am not supporting the idea of Peter Obi becoming somebody else’s Vice President. The day Peter Obi accepts a Vice Presidential position, I will walk away from his corner,” he said.   Obi contested the 2023 presidential election on the Labour Party platform.     Utomi recently criticised the Tinubu administration over the cost of living, arguing that rising petrol prices and low wages have worsened the economic challenges confronting Nigerians.

Lagos State spokesman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mogaji Seye Oladejo, has cast doubt on Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi’s chances in the 2027 general elections. Oladejo suggested that the political enthusiasm surrounding Obi's 2023 campaign may be losing momentum. He made the assessment in a statement dated October 19, 2026, […] 2027: Lagos APC spokesman predicts trouble for Peter Obi, Obidient Movement

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned that Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), risks seeing his political capital erode before the 2027 general elections unless he shows clearer ideological consistency and stronger organisational structures.In a statement titled “2027: Peter Obi and the Expiration Date of Political Momentum,” Lagos APC spokesman Seye Oladejo said Obi’s 2023 campaign successfully channelled public frustration, youth mobilisation and social-media energy. While acknowledging it as a significant moment in Nigeria’s democratic history, Oladejo stressed that surfing a wave of popular sentiment is not the same as building lasting political depth or a nationwide structure.“Obi appears to have mistaken a moment of extraordinary political momentum for a permanent entitlement to electoral relevance,” Oladejo said. “Political capital, once accumulated, can depreciate when it is not reinforced by consistency, credible policies and sustained organisational development.”He argued that Obi failed to turn the enthusiasm of 2023 into enduring political assets, noting that social-media visibility and large rallies cannot replace effective national organisation and grassroots networks. “No two elections are the same. The 2023 phenomenon drew strength from a particular combination of public frustration and novelty. There is no guarantee these factors will reproduce in 2027,” he added.Oladejo also criticised what he called Obi’s frequent party switches, from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP) and later realignments ahead of 2027 saying the pattern raises doubts about conviction. “Changing political parties is not inherently objectionable. The concern arises when repeated movement begins to create the impression that political platforms are interchangeable vehicles for personal ambition rather than institutions anchored in enduring principles,” he said.On policy, the APC spokesman questioned Obi’s consistency, arguing that presidential leadership demands clear explanations of costs, trade-offs and practical solutions to challenges such as inflation, unemployment, debt and energy. He further noted that Obi’s frequent call to “go and verify” has at times invited scrutiny that challenged the accuracy of his claims.Oladejo urged the Obidient movement to evolve from protest and mobilisation into a coherent policy platform and durable national organisation. “The 2027 election will not be decided by who can most successfully recreate emotions of 2023. It will be decided by who can persuade Nigerians that they possess competence, credibility, organisation and vision,” he stated.While conceding that electoral success must be earned through performance and public trust, Oladejo insisted no candidate is entitled to expect the ruling party to forfeit its advantage simply because of past popularity. “Momentum is an opportunity, not a permanent political asset,” he concluded.    

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, risks losing his political capital ahead of the 2027 general elections if he fails to demonstrate ideological consistency and organisational depth. The post 2027 not a replay of 2023 – Lagos APC tells Peter Obi appeared first on Vanguard News.

 Arise Television’s Morning Show anchor, Rufai Oseni, has criticised presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr Peter Obi, over his alleged lack of visibility and policy inconsistencies ahead of the 2027 general election.   Oseni also raised concerns over reported disagreements between Obi’s political movement, the Obidient Movement, and the NDC, questioning whether the party was adequately addressing the expectations of its supporters.   He made the remarks on Friday while reacting to comments by a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain, Chief Don Ulasi, on the opposition’s preparedness for the 2027 presidential election.   Ulasi had described Obi as the only serious opposition figure capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu, citing the government’s shortcomings in areas such as inflation and rising food prices. However, the PDP chieftain expressed doubts about the opposition’s ability to capitalise on public dissatisfaction, saying he had not seen sufficient grassroots mobilisation or town hall meetings by the NDC leadership.   Responding, Oseni questioned Obi’s political organisation and the reported disagreements between his camp and the NDC.   He said, “And that goes back to the problem that even this Peter Obi you are talking about. Are you really sure because he’s also having infighting with his NDC political party.   “As we speak today, there are loggerheads between OK movement and NDC, which there’s a lot of disagreement, which a lot of people even say they don’t even trust the high ups there in the NDC as regards if they are even truly after their hopes and aspiration.”   The broadcaster also faulted Obi over his position on petrol subsidy, arguing that the former Anambra State governor had failed to maintain a consistent stance on the policy.   “today, where is his manifesto? He was nowhere, he was found nowhere in the subsidy debate. He said something, then he flip flop on the subsidy.   “At first, he said, ‘Oh, I will keep subsidy. Now he’s saying he will remove subsidy again. But he said he will correct the corruption in there,” Oseni said.   He further argued that Obi had lost some of the supporters who backed him during the 2023 presidential election, attributing the development partly to what he described as inconsistency in his positions.   “So a lot of people have found him flip-flopping, and he has also lost a lot of people from the last election cycle that supported him,” he added.   DAILY POST reports that Obi’s political platform and the cohesion of opposition parties are likely to remain key issues as political actors position themselves ahead of the 2027 general election.

Arise Television’s Morning Show anchor, Rufai Oseni, has criticised presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr Peter Obi, over his alleged lack of visibility and policy inconsistencies ahead of the 2027 general election. Oseni also raised concerns over reported disagreements between Obi’s political movement, the Obidient Movement, and the NDC, questioning whether the […] 2027: Peter Obi nowhere to be found – Rufai Oseni