A senior presidential aide has forecast a significant drop in former presidential candidate Peter Obi’s political influence as Nigeria heads toward the 2027 general elections, saying the momentum that buoyed him in 2023 has largely dissipated.
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Tinubu, dismissed the idea that Obi — who secured strong youth support in the 2023 race — will command similar backing next year. Bwala spoke in a video interview on social media, outlining his criticisms of Obi’s trajectory.
“Peter Obi will not get one quarter of the vote he got,” Bwala said, arguing that Obi’s surge in the last election was driven by a unique moment rather than enduring political structure. “Of all political gladiators in Nigeria, the one who is an actor is Peter Obi… it is make believe; it is not a reality,” he added.
Bwala also criticised what he characterised as Obi’s inconsistent party affiliations, saying frequent defections have undermined the former Anambra State governor’s credibility. “They say you’re two-faced man, you change party… he started with PDP, then APGA… from APGA to PDP then he went to Labour,” he said.
The presidential aide further questioned Obi’s relevance in emerging political coalitions, asserting that he would be unlikely to secure either a presidential or vice-presidential slot within such alliances. He also predicted that Obi might contest under a different platform, neither the Labour Party (LP) nor the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Bwala’s remarks come amid a broader debate over the opposition’s strategy for 2027. Some analysts have also voiced scepticism about Obi’s prospects, noting that his defection to the ADC may not shift the political narrative sufficiently to repeat his 2023 performance.
Obi, who formally moved from the LP to the ADC at the end of 2025, has not publicly addressed Bwala’s predictions, and remains a prominent figure in the opposition landscape.
