Former Borno State Governor and APC chieftain Ali Modu Sheriff has expressed confidence that Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, will struggle to secure significant support in Northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Sheriff said, “I am not worried about Peter Obi because I know Northerners will never vote for him.”
He argued that despite Obi’s performance in the 2023 election, the political landscape has changed and claimed some Northern voters still have reservations about Obi’s tenure as governor of Anambra State. Sheriff also questioned the prospects of any political alliance between Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, saying such a partnership would not enjoy broad support in the region.
The former governor defended President Bola Tinubu’s handling of insecurity, maintaining that the challenge predates the current administration. He said ongoing efforts, including proposals for state policing, could strengthen the country’s security architecture.
Sheriff also dismissed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition, arguing that, in line with the principle of regional balance, the presidency should remain in Southern Nigeria until 2031. He expressed confidence that Tinubu would win re-election in 2027 while stressing that the APC would continue to work hard rather than assume victory was assured.
