Presidential aide Daniel Bwala has declared that former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi stands no chance of clinching the presidential nomination from any major political party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today program Wednesday, Bwala, who serves as Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, dismissed Obi’s prospects across multiple parties including the Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party, and African Democratic Congress.
The presidential aide went further to suggest that Obi might even struggle to secure a vice-presidential slot, indicating a dramatic shift in his political fortunes since the 2023 election where he finished second with 6,101,533 votes behind Tinubu’s 8,794,726.
Bwala attributed Obi’s 2023 electoral performance to what he described as divisive campaign tactics rather than substantive policy proposals. He claimed the former governor exploited religious sentiments to mobilize support, particularly among Christian voters.
“The north-central Peter Obi used dangerous rhetoric and deceived the church that he was going to take the country back to the church, and he got the number he could muster,” Bwala stated, suggesting that Obi’s campaign strategy relied heavily on religious and ethnic appeals.
The presidential adviser argued that Obi has already lost significant support since 2023, claiming that more than half of his voter base has abandoned him. According to Bwala, this erosion stems from the realization that Obi’s campaign was built “on rhetoric and division” rather than concrete political agenda.
“Whether Peter Obi is a ticket bearer of the party or not, he has lost more than 50% of his board because they were not votes built on agenda and politics; they were built on rhetoric and division. Nigerian people’s eyes are open,” he declared.
Looking ahead to 2027, Bwala expressed confidence that President Tinubu would significantly improve his performance in the Southeast, predicting a four to six-fold increase in votes from the region compared to 2023 results.
The aide also suggested that Obi’s influence in the South-South region has diminished considerably, noting that most governors in the area now support the current administration. “When President came, most of the governors were PDP governors in the South-South. Tell me a state in the South-South that is not supporting Asiwaju,” he challenged.
Bwala’s comments reflect growing confidence within the ruling APC about Tinubu’s re-election prospects, while simultaneously dismissing the opposition’s chances of mounting a credible challenge in 2027.
The assessment comes as political parties begin early preparations for the next electoral cycle, with various figures positioning themselves for potential presidential bids.
