APC Dismisses Obi’s 2027 Chances, Says He Mistook 2023 Momentum For Lasting Political Capital

The APC has rejected the notion that Nigeria Democratic Congress 2027 presidential candidate Peter Obi can win the upcoming election.

In a Monday statement by its Lagos spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, the ruling party said Obi benefited from public frustration during the last presidential race and does not have the political capital to succeed in 2027.

“Obi’s 2023 campaign tapped into widespread public frustration, youth mobilisation, social media enthusiasm and a desire for political change,” the APC stated.

“It was a consequential moment in Nigeria’s democratic experience, and the enthusiasm it generated deserves recognition.

“However, the ability to ride a wave of public sentiment is not the same as possessing the political depth, national structure, and governing competence required to sustain a presidential ambition.”

According to the party, Obi seems to have confused a moment of exceptional political momentum with a lasting claim to electoral relevance. It also accused him of inconsistency.

It added, “The danger of that miscalculation is that political capital, once accumulated, can depreciate when it is not reinforced by consistency, credible policies, and sustained organisational development.”

Related: Peter Obi: President Tinubu Is Exhausted And Deserves A Peaceful Retirement

The APC further accused the former Anambra State governor of lacking ideological consistency, saying “his repeated platform changes have exposed him to the same questions of political calculation and expediency that he frequently directs at established politicians.”

The party argued that a presidential aspirant must show more than the ability to secure an electoral platform.

In its view, the candidate must be able to build, strengthen and stay committed to a political project.

“Repeatedly changing platforms without convincingly articulating the enduring principles behind those decisions risks undermining the very image of political difference on which Obi’s appeal has rested,” the APC noted.

The party described Obi’s challenge as one in which “is that the enthusiasm of 2023 has not, by itself, resolved the structural demands of mounting a credible nationwide presidential campaign.”

It said social media visibility, lively rallies and passionate supporters “can influence political debate, but they cannot substitute for an effective national organisation, dependable political partnerships, and the capacity to mobilise voters across diverse constituencies”.

“Presidential politics requires more than a devoted following. It demands national reach, organisational resilience, coalition management, and the ability to persuade citizens whose priorities extend beyond the immediate concerns of a candidate’s most enthusiastic supporters,” it added.