2027: I’m Ready to Back Obi — Lamido Declares

As political alignments shift ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, former Jigawa State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart Sule Lamido has declared he is willing to support Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate if the opposition unites behind him.

Lamido made this revelation during a wide-ranging political interview, in which he discussed Nigeria’s worsening social conditions, political disillusionment, and the urgent need for a credible, nationwide rescue mission.

Despite reaffirming his PDP loyalty, Lamido stated that leadership must now be judged by competence, not party affiliation or region.

“If the coalition produces Peter Obi or anyone else committed to rescuing Nigeria, I will support them. But I remain PDP,” he said.

Lamido urged Nigerians to abandon outdated political sentiments rooted in ethnicity, geography, and party loyalty.

He argued that zoning and tribal politics have outlived their usefulness in a country deeply wounded by economic collapse, insecurity, and poor leadership.

He traced the origin of the PDP’s zoning principle back to the aftermath of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election, saying it was never meant to become a permanent political structure.

“It was a healing mechanism temporary. But now, it’s become an albatross,” Lamido explained.

The former foreign affairs minister also took aim at the North’s long-standing dominance in Nigerian leadership, questioning what real benefits it has brought to the region.

“What has the North gained from producing the most presidents?” he asked. “There’s still massive poverty and insecurity.”

Lamido emphasized that removing the APC from power should now be the national priority, regardless of political labels or tribal loyalties.

“Leadership should be about competence and vision, not geography,” he said. “I’m open to any arrangement that can confront the APC and rescue Nigeria.”

His remarks come amid rising public dissatisfaction with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, which critics accuse of economic mismanagement, rising inflation, and weak governance.

The national mood has grown increasingly volatile, especially in northern Nigeria, where security breakdowns, banditry, and economic decline have eroded confidence in the APC-led government.

Lamido’s public openness to Obi, who was once dismissed as an outsider by the political establishment, signals a potential shift in northern elite opinion.

Although Lamido remains a loyal PDP figure, his willingness to consider Obi underscores the growing urgency for opposition unity ahead of 2027.

His comments also align with earlier statements where he predicted a looming implosion within the APC, suggesting key figures like Ganduje and others could defect to the PDP before the next election cycle.

Lamido’s statements may mark a turning point in opposition strategy—especially as several parties and power blocs quietly explore forming a broad-based anti-APC alliance.

So far, there have been unofficial signals of a possible coalition between Labour Party, PDP, ADC, and various civil society movements.

In a country where fragmented opposition efforts have repeatedly handed power to incumbents, Lamido’s call for unity carries weight.

Analysts say that if influential PDP leaders like Lamido begin publicly warming to Peter Obi, it could reshape the 2027 race entirely.

For now, Nigeria’s political landscape remains fluid. But Lamido’s position highlights a growing consensus: 2027 must be about survival, not slogans.

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