₦airaland Forum

A former Borno State Governor and All Progressives Congress stalwart, Ali Modu Sheriff, has dismissed the prospects of Peter Obi emerging victorious in the 2027 presidential election, arguing that the former Anambra State governor would struggle to attract support across Northern Nigeria.

Sheriff made the remarks on Monday during an appearance on Politics Today, a programme aired on Channels Television, where he also defended President Bola Tinubu’s handling of national security and expressed confidence that the APC would retain power in the next general election.

Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Labour Party and finished third after polling more than six million votes, is expected to seek the presidency again in 2027 under the banner of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

Despite Obi’s performance in the last election, Sheriff insisted the former governor had little chance of winning over the North.

“I am not worried about Peter Obi because I know Northerners will never vote for him,” he said.

When reminded that Obi recorded significant votes in states such as Plateau and Nasarawa during the 2023 election, Sheriff argued that the political landscape had changed.

According to him, many Northerners still harbour grievances over Obi’s tenure as governor of Anambra State.

The situation is different now. When Peter Obi was governor, he chased Northerners out of Anambra State,” Sheriff alleged.

He further claimed that some supporters of former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso had also expressed reservations about any political alliance involving Obi.

“This is what people in Kano are telling Kwankwaso now. They say they have always supported him and will continue to do so if he contests for president, but they will not support him if he aligns with Peter Obi,” he said.

He cited the administration’s efforts to introduce state police as one of the initiatives aimed at strengthening security nationwide.

The APC chieftain also dismissed the chances of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is expected to contest on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, maintaining that power should remain in the South until 2031.

According to Sheriff, Nigeria’s political leaders reached an informal understanding after the civil war to promote regional balance by rotating the presidency between the North and the South.

After the civil war, our leaders agreed that Nigeria should not continue on the old path. There is an understanding about regional balance.

“For Atiku, this is not the North’s turn. He is a respected leader and eminently qualified, but he has to wait until 2031. President Buhari completed eight years in office, so it is now the South’s turn,” he said.

Sheriff expressed optimism that Tinubu would secure re-election in 2027 but stressed that the APC would continue to campaign vigorously rather than assume victory was guaranteed.

Ezeama400:
Peter Obi Won three states in the North..

What does he mean by North ?

Ezeama400:
Peter Obi Won three states in the North..

What does he mean by North ?

yarimo:
Peter obi never react or condemn IPOB terrorists and ESN killings and kidnapping of innocent people in south east

Nairalandhero:
These polithieftians know once Peter Obi becomes president all their Lootings will automatically stop because Obi hates stealing public funds

Streetinvestor2:
See joke.The north won't vote Atiku because it is southern turn. And they won't vote obi because he is not a southerner.So the definition of southern turn is Tinubu who has been Yoruba president in his dealings.
Did the south vote the drug baron in 2023 .
If the north don't vote obi.They will definitely vote Atiku which is still ok

Nigeria is wasting billions of $$$ on insecurity because of people like Ali Modu Sheriff from Borno. He has never condemned the activities of the Boko Haram. If Nigeria was working, Ali Sheriff would have been jailed a long time ago.

Hajiya Naja'atu Mohammed told us everything. pic.twitter.com/YpCv90zGK9

— NEFERTITI (@firstladyship) July 6, 2026

Nairalandhero:
These polithieftians know once Peter Obi becomes president all their Lootings will automatically stop because Obi hates stealing public funds

Zionmdde:
Let northerners vote whoever they want to it's their right. They can even vote turji Bello, that's their business

Same was it's the right of any other region to mock them when they fave the consequences of their choices

Nobody should gas light nobody

Ezeama400:
Peter Obi Won three states in the North..

What does he mean by North ?

Segunbabba:
https://punchng.com/northerners-will-never-vote-for-peter-obi-ex-borno-gov-sheriff/?

onatisi:
i doubt if the north will vote for obi if they see a northerner on the ballot , that is where the atiiku factor comes in . if obi had agreed to be vice , his combination with atiku would have been very very solid