In a recent appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Segun Sowunmi, a prominent figure in Nigerian politics, expressed skepticism about Peter Obi’s potential as a formidable challenger to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential elections. The comments, shared in a video clip posted by Channels Television on X (formerly Twitter), highlight shifting dynamics in Nigeria’s political landscape, particularly in the southeast region.
The clip, which has garnered over 6,000 views since its posting on January 15, 2026, captures Sowunmi responding to a question about potential opposition threats to Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC). He argued that Obi’s strong performance in the 2023 elections may not be replicable due to changes in regional leadership and voter sentiment.
“Look, you see, in 2023, the people who were sitting in authority at governor’s level in the southeast, they were not that inspirational,” Sowunmi said. He contrasted this with the current governors, noting, “You have to go back and look at the people who are now some of those leaders are delivering on value, delivering an assignment. They are inspirational leaders. None of those people can run over like that. It’s not as easy as that.”
Sowunmi suggested that these developments could erode Obi’s voter base, where he previously secured over 90% support in the southeast. “So Peter may not be able to get the figures he got over 90% in the old southeast,” he stated. He also referenced the role of his own party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in fostering Obi’s movement, saying, “We created that movement, albeit at the back end, believing that we should be able to thaw the glass ceiling so our south eastern brothers can know that.”
However, Sowunmi pointed to challenges stemming from Obi’s campaign style and public reactions. “Unfortunately, his inability and the excessive bigotry, the anger, quarrels—all of his people—has made a lot of us have a bit of pushback,” he added, warning that votes would need to be carefully counted, drawing a parallel to the 2015 elections. “Hey, we’ll see. They’re going to have to count the votes. If you remember 2015, before they would do… You can always sometimes imagine that some people can pull an offset.”
Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in 2023, has remained a vocal critic of the current administration, but Sowunmi’s remarks underscore potential fractures in opposition unity. The interview comes amid ongoing discussions about mergers and alliances ahead of 2027, with figures like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also eyeing another run.