Senator representing Anambra Central, Victor Umeh, has dismissed claims that the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, faces widespread rejection in northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 election, describing the perception as “make-believe” and “propaganda”.
Umeh, a key supporter of Obi’s presidential bid, said the former Anambra State governor had already demonstrated in the 2023 election that he could attract votes beyond the South-East and would be able to expand his support base in the North in the next election.
The senator, in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Friday, responded to concerns over Obi’s acceptance in northern Nigeria, a region widely regarded as critical to any presidential candidate seeking to secure the nationwide spread required to win the presidency.
“No, he is accepted. People are afraid of Peter Obi. That is a make-believe; it is propaganda,” Umeh said.
He pointed to Obi’s performance in the 2023 presidential election, arguing that the result showed the Labour Party candidate was capable of winning substantial support outside his traditional stronghold.
“In 2023, he got good votes in Adamawa State; he got good votes in other parts of the North,” he said.
According to the final results of the 2023 presidential election, Obi polled 6,101,533 votes, representing 25.4 per cent of the total votes cast.
He won 11 states and the Federal Capital Territory, while also securing at least 25 per cent of the votes in 16 states and the FCT.
Umeh said the political landscape had since changed, particularly among young Nigerians who, he argued, were increasingly questioning traditional political loyalties.
“The youths who own Nigeria and tomorrow’s Nigeria have seen that they cannot remain with the prejudices and misdirection of their leaders in the past because the things that have happened in the past have not helped them,” he said.
The senator maintained that Obi’s campaign should be judged on his proposed policies and programmes rather than ethnic or regional considerations.
‘No One Should Be Intimidated’
The Anambra lawmaker called for an environment in which political candidates could campaign freely across the country, arguing that Nigerians should be allowed to hear competing ideas before making their choices at the polls.
“This exchange of ideas and programmes and policies we want to implement should be allowed to sell through to the voting public. Nobody should be intimidated,” he said.
His comments come days after Obi’s convoy was obstructed during a visit to Benue State, where the NDC presidential candidate had planned to visit Yelewata and commiserate with families affected by the 2025 killings.
Obi’s convoy was stopped by youths along the Makurdi-Gboko federal highway on September 8. The Benue State Government denied responsibility for the incident, while the state police command later said it had arrested 46 people allegedly linked to the obstruction.
Umeh condemned the incident, arguing that political actors should not be prevented from moving freely or seeking support in any part of the country.
He also warned that the 2027 election must not be allowed to repeat the controversies surrounding the 2023 presidential poll.
The senator called for a “more transparent, credible, free and fair electoral process,” saying Nigerians remained concerned about the integrity of elections and the circumstances surrounding the 2023 exercise.
He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reduce its reliance on ad-hoc personnel and instead develop a pool of permanent and properly trained election officials.
Umeh also called for the prosecution of electoral offenders, arguing that those who undermine the electoral process must be held accountable.
He cautioned Nigerians against placing excessive reliance on artificial intelligence in the 2027 election, insisting that INEC must first provide explanations for the challenges that affected the 2023 election.
The senator said the outcome of a genuinely free and fair 2027 election could not be predetermined, urging political parties and their supporters to allow voters to make their choices without intimidation.
“It’s not all way out,” he said, while reflecting on Obi’s performance in 2023 and the possibility of a stronger showing in 2027.
Obi’s Push For Northern Support
Meanwhile, Obi has repeatedly sought to counter perceptions that his political appeal is largely concentrated in the South-East.
In July 2025, while appearing on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, the former Anambra State governor urged Nigerians to prioritise competence over ethnic and religious considerations when choosing their leaders.
“We have voted for incompetence, we’ve voted for tribe, (and) we’ve voted for religion; let’s vote for competence,” Obi said.
The presidential hopeful also argued that northern Nigeria had enormous economic potential, particularly in agriculture, and said his administration would tackle insecurity and unlock the region’s productive capacity.
“I want them to trust me. The biggest asset of this country is in the north, the uncultivated lands in the north. The criminality we face in the north today, I will deal with it
“If I am president, the North will celebrate me. I have an idea of the problem,” he added.
Obi has also recently urged Nigerians to participate actively in the 2027 election and protect their votes from the polling unit through the collation process.
The emphasis on the North is politically significant because the region remains a major component of Nigeria’s electoral map. A presidential candidate seeking to win nationally must build support across geographical and political divides, making northern voters an important constituency in the 2027 contest.
2027 Race
Obi gained national prominence during the 2023 presidential election, building a strong following, particularly among Nigerian youths, with his message of fiscal prudence, accountability and sustainable development.
After contesting under the Labour Party in 2023, Obi is now seeking the presidency for a second time, but this time on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The NDC ratified Obi as its presidential candidate at its special convention in Abuja on May 30, 2026, with former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso as his running mate.
The move has added a significant northern dimension to Obi’s 2027 campaign, given Kwankwaso’s political base and influence in Kano and parts of the North.
Obi finished third in the 2023 presidential election behind Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress and Atiku Abubakar under the Peoples Democratic Party.
Tinubu polled 8,794,726 votes, Atiku secured 6,984,520, while Obi recorded 6,101,533 votes.
Obi and the Labour Party challenged the outcome in court, alleging irregularities in the election. The Presidential Election Petition Court dismissed the petition in September 2023, and the Supreme Court subsequently upheld Tinubu’s victory.
For 2027, however, the political configuration has changed considerably.
Obi is now running for president under the NDC, with Kwankwaso as his running mate, while Atiku is seeking the presidency for the seventh time under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
President Tinubu is also vying for a second term to retain the nation’s top job.
While 21 political parties have registered overall, INEC officially cleared candidates from 19 of those parties to participate in the presidential race.
With the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, the battle for northern support is expected to remain central to the campaigns.
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