Buba Galadima, a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has defended his party’s support for Peter Obi’s presidential ambition, saying the former Anambra State governor should be seen as a national candidate rather than one defined by ethnicity.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Thursday, July 16, 2026, Galadima rejected claims that the proposed Obi-Kwankwaso alliance is driven by ethnic considerations, insisting that its objective is to promote national unity and strengthen cooperation across Nigeria’s regions.
According to Galadima, the alliance between the North and the South-East is rooted in Nigeria’s political history and reflects a tradition of collaboration between leaders from both regions before and after independence.
He said the decision to support Obi is based on the need to build a broad national coalition capable of addressing the country’s challenges, rather than advancing any ethnic agenda.
“We are making Peter Obi Nigerian president, not Igbo president. Can anybody in Nigeria point that out to me?” Galadima said.
Galadima argued that portraying Obi’s presidential bid as an ethnic project overlooks the broader vision behind the proposed political alliance. He also said political attitudes in the South-East have evolved, with greater emphasis now being placed on national leadership than ethnic identity.
He added that dialogue and cooperation between Northern Nigeria and the South-East have helped ease longstanding tensions and should continue to be encouraged as a means of promoting national reconciliation.
The NDC chieftain also criticised politicians whom he accused of exploiting ethnic and religious sentiments during election campaigns. He questioned the logic of seeking electoral support from the South-East while opposing the emergence of a presidential candidate from the region.
Galadima maintained that the proposed Obi-Kwankwaso ticket is intended to unite Nigerians across ethnic and religious divides, arguing that the country’s next leaders should be judged by their ability to address national challenges rather than by their regional or ethnic background.
