Peter Obi: Governors cannot decide 2027 election, Nigerians will choose their leader

The presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) has argued that the support of governors alone will not determine the winner of the 2027 election, insisting that political power ultimately belongs to voters.

Speaking during an interview on Nooire TV, the former Anambra State governor said elections are not won simply through endorsements from those occupying government offices.

According to Obi, the real deciding factor will be whether candidates can convince ordinary Nigerians that they have solutions to the country’s problems.

‘I Won Without Any Governor Behind Me’
Obi pointed to his performance in the 2023 presidential election as evidence that a candidate can achieve strong results without the backing of state governors.

He recalled that he secured victory in 12 states during the election despite not having a single governor openly supporting his campaign.

The former Labour Party presidential candidate argued that political structures matter, but public support remains the most powerful force during elections.

“It doesn’t matter whether 36 governors are with the president. I didn’t have one governor in the last election, and I won 12 states,” Obi said.

He added that the outcome could have been different if not for challenges he alleged affected the voting process.

2027 Battle Beyond Political Alliances
Obi’s comments come amid growing political discussions over the level of support President Bola Tinubu may receive from governors and political leaders ahead of the next election.

However, the NDC candidate dismissed the idea that a large number of governors backing a candidate automatically guarantees victory.

He said the focus of the 2027 election should move away from political calculations among elites and return to issues affecting everyday Nigerians.

According to him, hunger, unemployment, poor education and healthcare challenges are the issues that will determine how citizens vote.

‘Nigerians Are Looking for Food’
Obi said the biggest concern for many Nigerians is not political alliances but survival.

He argued that voters are more interested in how government policies affect their daily lives than which politicians are supporting a candidate.

The former governor said Nigeria needs leadership focused on improving the welfare of citizens rather than politics based on ethnicity, religion or personal connections.

“What is important is how to make Nigeria work for the poor. A Nigeria where tribe, ethnicity and religion will not be the issue,” he said.

“The issue will be about the welfare of the people, the education of the people and the health of the people. Nigerians are hungry today. N
With political conversations already heating up, the 2027 election is expected to become a major contest between political structures and voter sentiment.

For Obi, the lesson from the 2023 election is that grassroots support can challenge traditional political calculations.

Whether that argument will translate into electoral success remains a question only Nigerian voters will answer.

But one thing is clear: as the country moves closer to another presidential race, the battle will not only be fought in political meetings and government houses.

It will also be fought in markets, streets, communities and polling units across Nigeria.