Rising Challenges for Peter Obi’s Presidential Ambitions in the North
The presidential ambitions of former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, are encountering significant resistance from some northern political stakeholders and segments of the electorate. This challenge has been highlighted through various reports and analyses that reveal a complex political landscape in Northern Nigeria.
Resistance from Northern Stakeholders
Some stakeholders who have spoken with correspondents have indicated that “majority of northerners” have not embraced Obi’s party, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). These individuals have expressed concerns about the party’s acceptance among northern voters. Some northern leaders have started to warn their followers against the NDC, portraying Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, as anti-northern interests.
In some WhatsApp groups circulating in the region, Obi and Kwankwaso were labeled as “haram” (forbidden). Reports also emerged of angry youths in Ungogo Local Government Area of Kano State burning campaign posters of Obi and Kwankwaso. Additionally, a member of the Kano State House of Assembly, Muhammad Tomas, who had previously joined the NDC from the All Progressives Congress, returned to the APC.
The NDC’s Limited Visibility
According to the National Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the NDC remains largely unknown to ordinary voters across the region. He noted that while some prominent opposition figures attract media attention, their political influence in the North is uncertain. He specifically mentioned Rabiu Kwankwaso, whose support base may no longer be as strong as it appeared during the 2023 presidential election.
Muhammad-Baba pointed out that many politicians associated with the NDC have moved across several political platforms over the years, leading to confusion among voters. He argued that many northerners have become disillusioned with politics built around ethnic, regional, and religious sentiments.
Growing Frustration Among Voters
The growing frustration among citizens is not directed at one political party alone but reflects broader dissatisfaction with the political class. Muhammad-Baba emphasized that people are no longer impressed by slogans and promises and are seeking practical solutions to their problems.
Obi’s Alleged Sympathy for IPOB
The President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Council, Zaid Ayuba, stated that the NDC is not being accepted in the North because of Obi, whom he said northerners do not trust. He dismissed Kwankwaso’s influence and ability to market Obi, noting that Obi’s “open support for the Indigenous People of Biafra” was an albatross.
Ayuba added that unless Obi provides a reasonable and convincing explanation of his stance on IPOB, the North will not accept his candidature. He stressed that this issue is about justice and not religion or ethnic considerations.
No NDC Presence in the North
A professor of Political Science in Sokoto, who spoke with Sunday PUNCH on condition of anonymity, stated that the NDC does not have a presence in Kaduna, Jigawa, Benue, Plateau, Katsina, Gombe, Niger, Taraba, Zamfara, and other states in the region. According to him, the party remains largely unknown to ordinary voters across the region.
Meanwhile, the Northern Youth Assembly accused Kwankwaso of abandoning northern political interests by aligning with Obi. In a statement issued by the group, they described the alliance as a betrayal of the values historically associated with the Kwankwasiyya movement.
NDC Gaining Ground in the North
Despite these challenges, party leaders and political analysts in several northern states insist that the groundwork for the NDC’s victory is already underway. The NDC Chairman in Borno State, Haruna Amuda, reported significant membership growth, including defections from rival opposition parties.
In Jigawa State, a chieftain of the party, Abdulrazak Birnin-Kudu, noted that coordinators had been appointed across all 27 LGAs, while mobilisation efforts continued at the ward level. The party’s governorship candidate in the state, Aminu Dutse, pointed to economic hardship and insecurity as creating opportunities for alternative political platforms.
Diverse Perspectives on NDC’s Acceptance
Steve Aluko-Daniel, the Northern Region Director of the Civil Liberty Organisation, dismissed the claim that the NDC was not accepted in the North. He stated that northern voters were joining the NDC because the region no longer had a common political front.
Zakari Garba, the National Co-Chairman of NDC Coalition Alliance Network, highlighted the rapid expansion of the NDC across Northern Nigeria and the country at large. He described the Obi–Kwankwaso partnership as one of the strongest political combinations currently being discussed ahead of 2027.
