Former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff, has ruled out the chances of Peter Obi in the 2027 presidential election, stressing that the North will not be voting for the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democracy Congress (NDC).
This was as he disclosed that northerners are already telling Obi’s running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso that he has their support if running as a presidential candidate but not when he pairs with the former Anambra State governor.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Sheriff said he was not bothered about Obi’s presidential ambition, despite the former Labour Party standard bearer’s strong showing in some parts of the North during the 2023 election.
Obi, who polled more than six million votes to finish third in the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Labour Party, is seeking the presidency again in 2027 under the newly registered NDC.
However, Sheriff, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) believes that Obi would not succeed because, according to him, the North would not vote for him.
According to him, “I am not worried about Peter Obi at all because I know that Northerners will never vote for Peter Obi.”
When reminded that Obi won substantial votes in states such as Nasarawa and Plateau during the 2023 election, the ex-Borno governor dismissed the comparison, arguing that circumstances had changed.
His words, “The situation is different now, you know why? Peter Obi when he was a governor chased all the Northerners out of Anambra State.
“This is what Kano people are telling Kwankwaso now, that we always supported you and we will support you if you run for president but we will not support you to go with Peter Obi.”
Sheriff also defended President Bola Tinubu against Obi’s recent criticisms over the country’s security challenges.
Obi has repeatedly criticised the President over worsening insecurity and even called on Tinubu to resign if he cannot protect Nigerians.
Responding, Sheriff said Obi was the least qualified person to demand the President’s resignation, insisting that Tinubu was making genuine efforts to address the security situation.
He cited the President’s push for the establishment of state police as evidence of his commitment to tackling insecurity.
“We don’t just go and be condemning the president because there is insecurity in Nigeria,” he said, adding that the country’s security challenges did not begin under Tinubu’s administration.
Sheriff also ruled out the chances of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, arguing that the North would not support his bid because it is the South’s turn to produce the President.
According to him, Nigeria’s political leaders reached an understanding after the civil war to promote regional balance in the presidency.
“After the civil war our leaders have said that there will no longer be this situation in Nigeria, there is a regional agreement. For Atiku, it’s not our time now. He is on his own because it is the turn for the South. Buhari just finished 8 years.
“If Atiku wants to be president he can wait, he is a leader in Northern Nigeria, he is eminently qualified but it is not our time now, he has to wait till 2031. That is the time for the North, for now, it is time for the South,” he said.
Sheriff expressed confidence that Tinubu would secure a second term victory in the 2027 election, emphasising that the APC would not take anything for granted and would work hard ahead of the polls.
