The All Progressives Congress has dismissed the chances of Nigeria Democratic Congress 2027 presidential candidate Peter Obi in the forthcoming election.
The ruling party, in a statement on Monday by its Lagos spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, claimed Mr Obi tapped into Nigerians’ frustrations in the last presidential election, noting he lacks the political capital to win in 2027.
“Obi’s 2023 campaign tapped into widespread public frustration, youth mobilisation, social media enthusiasm and a desire for political change,” the APC stated. “It was a consequential moment in Nigeria’s democratic experience, and the enthusiasm it generated deserves recognition. However, the ability to ride a wave of public sentiment is not the same as possessing the political depth, national structure, and governing competence required to sustain a presidential ambition.”
The ruling party noted that Mr Obi appeared to have mistaken a moment of extraordinary political momentum for a permanent entitlement to electoral relevance, accusing him of inconsistency.
It added, “The danger of that miscalculation is that political capital, once accumulated, can depreciate when it is not reinforced by consistency, credible policies, and sustained organisational development.”
The APC, which further accused Mr Obi of lack of ideological consistency, noted that “his repeated platform changes have exposed him to the same questions of political calculation and expediency that he frequently directs at established politicians”.
According to the ruling party, a presidential aspirant must demonstrate not merely the ability to find an electoral vehicle but the capacity to build, strengthen and remain committed to a political project.
“Repeatedly changing platforms without convincingly articulating the enduring principles behind those decisions risks undermining the very image of political difference on which Obi’s appeal has rested,” the APC noted.
The ruling party said Mr Obi’s challenge “is that the enthusiasm of 2023 has not, by itself, resolved the structural demands of mounting a credible nationwide presidential campaign”, stating that social media visibility, enthusiastic rallies, and passionate supporters “can influence political debate, but they cannot substitute for an effective national organisation, dependable political partnerships, and the capacity to mobilise voters across diverse constituencies”.
“Presidential politics requires more than a devoted following. It demands national reach, organisational resilience, coalition management, and the ability to persuade citizens whose priorities extend beyond the immediate concerns of a candidate’s most enthusiastic supporters,” it added.
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