2027: Peter Obi’s presidential ambition collapses as Northerners root for Jonathan

Numerous political analysts had long suggested that Obi’s quest for the presidency was fraught with challenges, particularly given the intricate landscape of Nigerian politics.

Former presidential contender Dumebi Kachikwu, representing the African Democratic Congress (ADC), publicly asserted that an intriguing proposition was made by Jonathan to Obi.

This proposal allegedly involved offering Obi the pivotal role of Coordinating Minister of the Economy, contingent upon Obi’s withdrawal from the upcoming 2027 presidential race to endorse Jonathan’s political ambitions.

As reported by POLITICS NIGERIA, several opposition figures, including Obi himself, have aligned with the ADC to form a coalition in anticipation of the 2027 elections. During a press conference held in Abuja on Friday, Kachikwu elaborated on this situation, claiming that Northern political elites orchestrated Jonathan’s re-entry into the electoral fray as a deliberate strategy aimed at diluting the Southern influence in Nigerian politics.

“In order to weaken the South, they have now drafted in former President Jonathan into the race who is alleged to be offering Peter Obi the position of Coordinating Minister of the Economy for him to support his ambition,” he said.Kachikwu further alleged that Obi was told he could not win Northern votes because he is an Igbo man.

“A Peter Obi has been told in very clear terms that he will never get northern votes as an Ibo man, and as such, he should accept to be Atiku’s running mate,” he added.

He accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and some Northern elites of holding political power for decades without improving illiteracy and poverty in the region.

“They use the weapons of region, religion, tongue, tribe and poverty as they convince millions of poor Northerners that a southern President Tinubu hates them and is the cause of their poverty,” Kachikwu charged.

He condemned the deliberate spread of falsehoods against President Tinubu and other southern presidential aspirants.

Calling on Nigerians to resist Atiku and his allies, Kachikwu said, “We must all come to equity with clean hands and sincerity of purpose.”

“We don’t burn our houses because we want to kill rats and cockroaches; sometimes we just need to make our houses clean so that rats and cockroaches leave on their own.”

“My earnest prayer is that Nigeria will soon work for every one of us,” Kachikwu said.