2027: Having 36 governors on his side won't make a difference for Tinubu; I emerged victorious in 12 states during the 2023 election without needing a single governor's support — Obi

Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress for the 2027 general election, has downplayed concerns about President Bola Tinubu's growing support from state governors, emphasizing that governors do not dictate election outcomes.

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Obi has vowed to engage with agitators nationwide, stressing that dialogue and sacrifice will be pivotal in his efforts to rebuild national unity if he becomes president, as he stated in an interview with NoireTV.

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The former Anambra governor cited his performance in the 2023 presidential election, where he won 12 states without the backing of any governor, to demonstrate that political endorsements by governors are not decisive.

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Obi noted that "it doesn't matter whether 36 governors are with the president" and pointed out that he won 12 states in the last election, even after two were allegedly stolen from him through rigging.

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He compared his outcome to that of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, who won only one state, Kano, and noted that the APC, PDP, and Labour each won 12 states, with Obi claiming he would have had 14 if not for rigging.

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Obi reiterated his claim that he was rigged out of two states during the 2023 presidential election, despite the courts, including the Supreme Court, upholding the outcome of the poll.

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He argued that the 2027 election should focus on improving the welfare of Nigerians rather than political alliances and elite endorsements, stating that "what is important is how to make Nigeria work for the poor".

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Obi envisioned a Nigeria where "tribe, ethnicity and religion will not be the issue" and instead emphasized the importance of addressing the welfare, education, and health of the people, as "Nigerians are hungry today" and "looking for food".

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Obi has promised to adopt a dialogue-driven approach to addressing agitations across the country, believing that genuine national unity can only be achieved through listening, inclusion, and justice.

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In a statement issued by the Peter Obi Media Reach, Obi's spokesman, Ibrahim Umar, said the former governor made these remarks during an interaction with Nigerians in Washington, D.C., United States.

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Obi stated that "to achieve the aim of unifying the country, I will listen to all agitators, harmonise them and make some sacrifices with a view to bringing the country together", in response to a question about uniting the country amid growing regional and political tensions.

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According to his media office, Obi believes that many agitations in Nigeria are rooted in poverty, unemployment, perceived injustice, and feelings of exclusion from the nation's political and economic structures.

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The statement clarified that Obi's position should not be misconstrued as support for any particular group or individual, but rather as a commitment to addressing the underlying causes of unrest through dialogue.

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Obi plans to shift the strategy from active combat to active listening, treating agitators not just as security threats but as citizens with grievances, many of which stem from economic marginalisation, perceived injustice, and institutional neglect.

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His media office argued that "true national unity cannot be coerced; it must be built" and that democracy should encourage structured dialogue that restores faith in public institutions and promotes fairness and mutual respect.

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Obi's comments come amid ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition figures and parties exploring possible alliances to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress and President Tinubu.