As political activities ahead of the 2027 general election gather pace, the Presidency says President Bola Tinubu’s performance in office has diminished Peter Obi’s political influence, insisting the former Labour Party presidential candidate cannot replicate his surprise 2023 victory over Tinubu in Lagos State.
As political calculations ahead of the 2027 general election begin to gather momentum, the Presidency has dismissed Peter Obi as a serious challenger to President Bola Tinubu, insisting that the former Labour Party presidential candidate lacks the political strength to repeat his historic victory over Tinubu in Lagos State.
Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, made the assertion during an interview on Mic On Podcast hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, where he argued that the Tinubu administration’s performance has weakened Obi’s political appeal and strengthened the government’s standing ahead of the next presidential election.
Dare rejected suggestions that Obi remains a nightmare for the administration, maintaining that the President’s record in office has placed the government on “solid ground.”
“He is not a nightmare. Maybe before, Peter Obi was a threat, but right now, Peter Obi is no threat because we stand on solid ground of performance. We are able to interrogate the problems of this country,” Dare said.
The presidential aide made the remarks when asked whether Obi, who emerged as one of the biggest political stories of the 2023 presidential election, still represents a formidable challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The interviewer reminded Dare that Obi recorded a historic victory over Tinubu in Lagos State during the 2023 presidential election, defeating the former Lagos governor in what had long been regarded as his political stronghold.
According to the official results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Obi polled 582,454 votes in Lagos State, narrowly defeating Tinubu, who secured 572,606 votes by a margin of 9,848 votes. The outcome marked one of the biggest upsets of the election, although Tinubu went on to win the presidency after securing more than 8.7 million votes nationwide.
Responding to the reference to Obi’s Lagos victory, Dare dismissed its relevance to the current political environment, insisting that circumstances have changed significantly since the last election.
“That was 2023. We’re talking about 2026,” he said, adding emphatically, “It can’t happen again.”
While Dare did not elaborate on the specific reasons for his confidence, he maintained that the Tinubu administration’s performance in office would shape voter perception and provide the President with a stronger political advantage in the next election cycle.
His comments come as political parties and leading figures continue to position themselves ahead of the 2027 general election, with debates over the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, governance record and the opposition’s capacity to mount a formidable challenge expected to dominate Nigeria’s political landscape in the months ahead.
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