A faction of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has called on Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, to shelve his 2027 presidential ambition and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The group cited concerns over national unity, political realities, and the potential fallout for the South-East region.
In a statement issued in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Deputy National President of the Ohanaeze faction, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, warned that unseating an incumbent president would be an uphill task, especially given the fragmented opposition and the ambitions of other contenders like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is reportedly eyeing the presidency again at age 81.
Isiguzoro argued that the South-East alone cannot deliver a presidential victory, and that a divided opposition, particularly between Obi and Atiku, would only strengthen Tinubu’s chances of securing a second term.
He cautioned that such a scenario could lead to political setbacks for the Igbo people, similar to what transpired in the 2019 and 2023 elections.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo fully acknowledges Obi’s constitutional right to contest the presidency in 2027,” the statement read.
“However, we must confront the stark reality that, despite his considerable social media following, the potential for betrayal looms large. Such betrayal could yield dire consequences, with the Igbo people once again bearing the repercussions.”
The group recalled that in 2019, Obi’s joint ticket with Atiku Abubakar failed to deliver victory and allegedly cost the South-East a promised sixth state from then-President Muhammadu Buhari.
It also noted that despite the region’s strong support for Obi in 2023, the outcome did not favour the South-East politically.
Ohanaeze urged Obi to consider the broader implications of his candidacy and instead support Tinubu’s administration, which it claims has made strides in addressing infrastructure deficits in the region, including the appointment of David Umahi as Minister of Works and increased federal allocations to South-East states.
