“Any pairing today — a Peter Obi in the South and anybody in the North — will beat Tinubu in 2027” — Udenta

A political scientist and public affairs analyst, Udenta Udenta, has said a presidential ticket combining a strong southern candidate such as Peter Obi with a credible northern running mate could defeat Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election.

Udenta made the remarks during an appearance on Sunday Politics, a programme on Channels Television, arguing that the current political climate favours a broad opposition alliance built on regional balance.

According to him, Obi remains the most prominent opposition figure in southern Nigeria, while the choice of a northern counterpart would be decisive in shaping the strength of the ticket.

“The pairing in the South, what you have on the ground, visible and manifest, is Peter Obi,” he said. “The choice of who they have in the North is for them to make up their minds.”

He also linked the prospects of the 2027 election to prevailing economic conditions, suggesting that voter decisions will be shaped more by living standards than official economic indicators. He argued that worsening hardship could influence public perception of the current administration, with many Nigerians likely to assess governance based on changes in their daily lives since May 2023.

“It is not about rhetoric or grandstanding,” he said. “What matters is the living condition.”

Udenta’s comments come as opposition leaders have moved beyond exploratory talks and formed a coalition ahead of the next election cycle, with the African Democratic Congress emerging as a central platform. Key figures in the alliance include Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi and Obi.

In the 2023 presidential election, the combined votes of Obi, Atiku and Rabiu Kwankwaso—who contested on separate platforms—exceeded 15 million, surpassing the total secured by Tinubu.

Meanwhile, Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress continue to strengthen their political base ahead of 2027, with support from 31 state governors across the country.