Peter Obi’s 2027 election chances will collapse, says Festus Keyamo, citing religion, ethnicity, and youth support as factors unlikely to repeat in future polls
Peter Obi’s 2027 election chances are unlikely to hold up, according to Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who said the core demographics that propelled Obi’s 2023 run will not align in the next general election.
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Speaking on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, Keyamo described Obi’s support base in the 2023 presidential election as circumstantial and driven by three now-fading demographic forces.
“Three demographic factors delivered Peter Obi in 2023, but the three will collapse,” Keyamo stated.
He identified religious sentiment as the first driver of Obi’s popularity. Obi, being the only prominent Christian candidate, reportedly attracted widespread support from Christian voters amid a lineup of Muslim candidates.
The second factor, according to Keyamo, was ethnic solidarity from the South-East.
He argued that many Igbos felt politically marginalized and rallied behind Obi as a regional symbol.
The final element, he noted, was the surge of youth support—famously known as the “Obidient” movement.
The group, largely composed of disillusioned young Nigerians, rallied behind Obi due to his relative youth and anti-establishment stance.
Keyamo, a senior figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC), believes these factors will not be sustainable by 2027.
“The youth wanted a younger candidate, but that moment has passed,” he said. “The numbers won’t add up next time.”
He also dismissed speculation about a potential alliance between Obi and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar under the ADC or any third-party coalition.
According to him, such a merger won’t be enough to unseat the APC, which he claims has firm control in northern Nigeria.
“If you put Peter Obi as president, he cannot penetrate the North. We have our structures—governors, grassroots presence, everything,” he added.
While acknowledging that the opposition movement keeps the ruling party on its toes, Keyamo remained confident that Obi’s influence is waning.
“They are going nowhere in terms of demography,” he said. “It will make us work harder, yes—but the numbers aren’t on their side.”
As the 2027 election landscape begins to take shape, debates over alliances, demographics, and party strength are heating up.
Also read: Keyamo Slams Atiku Over PDP Resignation During Buhari’s Mourning
But for now, Peter Obi’s 2027 election chances, at least in the eyes of the APC, appear uncertain.
