Arise TV anchor Rufai Oseni has said Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, remains the only opposition figure with the capacity to mount a serious challenge against President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Speaking during a programme monitored on Sunday, May 4, 2026, Oseni argued that Obi’s nationwide appeal, especially among urban youths and professionals, sets him apart from other contenders.
“Peter Obi still commands strong urban youth appeal and South-East loyalty. None of the other names being mentioned has that kind of organic following across demographics,” Oseni said.
He noted that while Atiku Abubakar has experience and national networks, “age, repeated bids and fatigue narrative remain hurdles”. Rabiu Kwankwaso, he added, has a strong Kano base but limited national spread unless alliances deepen.
Oseni’s comments come amid reports of cracks in the opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), with insiders saying an Obi/Kwankwaso ticket is “making the presidency jittery” because it enjoys backing from youths, professionals and retired generals.
However, the coalition has been hit by instability. Peter Obi reportedly exited the ADC recently, citing endless court cases, internal battles, and division within the party. Analysts say the split risks fracturing the opposition ahead of INEC’s May 30, 2026 primary deadline.
Some political watchers argue that Obi, Atiku, and Kwankwaso’s combined votes in 2023 exceeded 15 million nearly double Tinubu’s tally.
“Together, they patch each other’s fatal gaps,” one analyst wrote, noting Obi brings South-East, South-South sympathy and urban youth.
Oseni maintained that without a united front, Tinubu would have an easy path in 2027, recalling how the president won in 2023 with 37% while Obi and Atiku split the opposition vote.
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