Igbo Forum Urges Obi to Drop 2027 Presidential Ambition

A coalition of Igbo groups under the banner of Ndigbo for Tinubu 2027 Forum (NDI-ABAT) has called on Peter Obi to reconsider any plan to contest the 2027 presidential election against Bola Tinubu.

In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, and Secretary-General, Ugwuoke Ugwuoke Jr., the forum said its appeal was driven by what it described as prevailing political realities and the broader interests of both the Igbo people and the country.

The group argued that a renewed presidential bid by Obi would not advance Igbo political prospects, adding that current indicators favour Tinubu’s re-election in 2027. It maintained that the president is positioned to outperform not only Obi but other potential contenders, including Atiku Abubakar and Chibuike Amaechi.

NDI-ABAT also stated that Obi does not represent a consensus candidate for the Igbo electorate. According to the group, Obi’s previous remarks about running as a national rather than ethnic candidate suggest that his ambition is not tied to a collective regional mandate.

The forum further dismissed the political weight of the “Obidient Movement,” describing much of its support base as lacking electoral influence, particularly among Nigerians in the diaspora who cannot vote in domestic elections.

It added that political alignment in the Southeast has shifted since the 2023 election, claiming that governors and key stakeholders in the region now support Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The group cited ongoing federal infrastructure projects in the region as evidence of strengthened ties with the current administration.

NDI-ABAT concluded that Obi’s participation in the 2027 race could result in another electoral loss for the region and urged him to step aside. It suggested that a more strategic approach would better position the Southeast for a future presidential bid, which it projected could emerge around 2035.