The influential Nigerian businessman and politician Peter Obi has confirmed that he will run as a candidate in the January 2027 presidential elections, a decision that once again introduces a strong division in the opposition bloc and that, predictably, favors the current head of state, Bola Tinubu.
Obi finished third in the 2023 elections, in which Tinubu secured victory by a narrow margin. The president has already announced that he will run for re-election and, likewise, will do so the main victim of Obi's announcement, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who came second in those elections and who had been working with him on a possible joint candidacy.
Abubakar, 79, was designated on Thursday as the presidential aspirant for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the country's main opposition party, in what will be his seventh attempt to reach the head of state. In the last elections, Obi and Abubakar jointly garnered 54% of the votes, compared to the 36% obtained by Tinubu, who, with the opposition again fractured, starts as the favorite for a second term.
For his part, Obi, 64, and nominated by the Nigerian Democratic Congress, formalized the acceptance of his candidacy at an event held on Saturday night. During the ceremony, he stressed that widespread insecurity in Nigeria is the main reason to go to the polls. Highly regarded among the urban and young electorate, the businessman also insisted on the urgency of combating poverty through greater economic growth, with special emphasis on institutional reform, youth empowerment, and the recovery of the agricultural sector.
At the same event, Obi presented Rabiu Kwankwaso, who finished fourth in the 2023 presidential elections, as his Vice Presidential aspirant for 2027. Kwankwaso is a heavyweight figure in Kano state, in the north of the country, one of the areas most affected by the violence of criminal groups known as "bandits," which could strengthen the appeal of Obi's candidacy in that key region.
"This crucial moment transcends Peter Obi's individual ambitions; it is about the essence of our nation and the future of our children. It is about rekindling the hope of millions who have faced adversity but remain committed to Nigeria," he stated in his speech, before declaring that the country is at a "crucial juncture" ahead of next year's elections.
"We must address insecurity with resolve and urgency, because no nation can prosper while its citizens live in fear. The primary responsibility of the Government is to ensure the protection of lives and property," he added.