Minister of Works, David Umahi, has dismissed the political influence of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, saying he poses no threat to President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Umahi stated this on Friday during an interview with Arise Television, where he also described what he called Obi’s growing political influence as “artificial intelligence politics.”
“Nobody is afraid of Peter Obi; he is no threat to Tinubu,” the minister said.
The former Ebonyi State governor also criticised Obi for allegedly failing to consult political leaders in the South-East before declaring his presidential ambition.
According to Umahi, the South-East has several other qualified politicians capable of seeking the presidency, arguing that Obi should not automatically be regarded as the region’s strongest presidential contender based on his performance in the 2023 election.
He said winning the presidency required broader political engagement and negotiations across Nigeria rather than relying predominantly on support from one geopolitical region.
Umahi maintained that any candidate seeking to emerge as president must build alliances across regional and political divides to secure the nationwide support required to win the election.
