Former Borno State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Ali Modu Sheriff, has expressed doubts about the chances of former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi winning the 2027 presidential election, saying he does not believe the Nigeria Democratic Congress 2023 presidential candidate can secure significant support in Northern Nigeria.
Sheriff made the remarks on Monday during an appearance on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, where he also defended President Bola Tinubu’s handling of the country’s security challenges and expressed confidence that the APC would retain power in the 2027 general election.
According to Sheriff, Obi’s prospects in the North remain slim despite his performance in the 2023 presidential election, in which he secured more than six million votes nationwide.
“I am not worried about Peter Obi because I know Northerners will never vote for him,” Sheriff said.
When reminded that Obi polled substantial votes in states such as Plateau and Nasarawa during the 2023 election, the former governor argued that the political landscape had changed.
Sheriff alleged that many Northerners still hold grievances over Obi’s tenure as governor of Anambra State.
“The situation is different now. When Peter Obi was governor, he chased Northerners out of Anambra State,” he claimed.
Sheriff also claimed that some supporters of former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso had expressed opposition to any political alliance involving Obi.
“This is what people in Kano are telling Kwankwaso now. They say they have always supported him and will continue to do so if he contests for president, but they will not support him if he aligns with Peter Obi,” he said.
The former Borno governor also dismissed recent criticisms of President Bola Tinubu by Obi over the country’s security situation.
Obi has repeatedly criticised the Tinubu administration’s handling of insecurity and argued that the President should take responsibility for protecting the lives and property of Nigerians.
Responding, Sheriff said Nigeria’s security challenges predate the current administration and argued that Tinubu should be assessed based on the measures his government has implemented to tackle insecurity.
Sheriff maintained that the APC remained well-positioned to retain power in the 2027 elections despite growing political realignments ahead of the polls.
