2027: Peter Obi Will Be Making the Biggest Mistake of His Life If He Runs as VP – Bwala

Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy, has issued a strong warning to Labour Party’s Peter Obi against accepting the role of a vice presidential candidate in the 2027 general election. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Bwala said such a move would mark the “biggest mistake” of Obi’s political career, predicting it would fracture his strong support base, particularly among the youth-led “Obidient” movement.

Peter Obi, who previously served as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in 2019 before contesting the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party, gained widespread support for his reformist message and clean image, especially among young voters. The Obidient movement, which backs Obi’s presidential ambition, has remained vocal and loyal, both online and in grassroots mobilization.

Bwala argued that the core of Obi’s support is rooted in his presidential aspiration and that aligning himself as a vice presidential candidate to another politician would alienate his followers. “All of the people you are hearing, Obidient, had only one contract with Peter Obi – that he will run for President. The minute Peter Obi drops the idea of running for President himself, I can guarantee you he will lose the majority of the people that are following him,” he stated.

He further suggested that Obi himself may be reluctant to accept such an arrangement and pointed out the growing influence of President Tinubu within the political landscape. According to Bwala, defections from other parties, including governors and senators, demonstrate a shift towards Tinubu’s leadership. He described Tinubu as a politically seasoned figure whose capacity to unify and deliver governance is unmatched in the current political climate.

“The President may not be perfect, he may make mistakes, but one fact is clear – his head and his heart are right,” Bwala said, insisting that no current politician has the same political gravitas or nationwide reach as Tinubu. He concluded that any opposition coalition involving Obi as a vice presidential candidate would be “dead on arrival.”