2027: Obi’s Non-Acceptance In The North A ‘Make-Believe, Propaganda’ — Umeh
Senator representing Anambra Central, Victor Umeh, has dismissed claims that the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, faces widespread rejection in northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 election, describing the perception as “make-believe” and “propaganda”.
Umeh, a key supporter of Obi’s presidential bid, said the former Anambra State governor had already demonstrated in the 2023 election that he could attract votes beyond the South-East and would be able to expand his support base in the North in the next election.
The senator, in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Friday, responded to concerns over Obi’s acceptance in northern Nigeria, a region widely regarded as critical to any presidential candidate seeking to secure the nationwide spread required to win the presidency.
“No, he is accepted. People are afraid of Peter Obi. That is a make-believe; it is propaganda,” Umeh said.
He pointed to Obi’s performance in the 2023 presidential election, arguing that the result showed the former Labour Party candidate was capable of winning substantial support outside his traditional stronghold.
“In 2023, he got good votes in Adamawa State; he got good votes in other parts of the North,” he said.
According to the final results of the 2023 presidential election, Obi polled 6,101,533 votes, representing 25.4 per cent of the total votes cast.
He won 11 states and the Federal Capital Territory, while also securing at least 25 per cent of the votes in 16 states and the FCT.
Umeh said the political landscape had since changed, particularly among young Nigerians who, he argued, were increasingly questioning traditional political loyalties.
“The youths who own Nigeria and tomorrow’s Nigeria have seen that they cannot remain with the prejudices and misdirection of their leaders in the past because the things that have happened in the past have not helped them,” he said.
The senator maintained that Obi’s campaign should be judged on his proposed policies and programmes rather than ethnic or regional considerations.
