By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, Sam Amadi, has said the electoral map and growing youth support for Peter Obi could give the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) an edge over President Bola Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the 2027 general elections.
Amadi, who spoke in an interview with Symfoni TV, said neither Tinubu nor Atiku could rely on the existing electoral map to guarantee victory in the 2027 presidential election.
He argued that the political circumstances that favoured Tinubu in the 2023 election had changed, while Obi had continued to attract significant support, particularly among Nigerian youths.
According to him, Tinubu entered the 2023 presidential race with the advantage of being perceived as the politician who had transformed Lagos State, despite conducting what he described as a limited campaign.
Amadi said Obi’s growing popularity was partly driven by the desire among Nigerians, especially young people, for a departure from the established political order.
“There is this sense that Nigeria needs something new, and the restiveness and disruption during the 2020 EndSARS incident is a milestone for Obi,” he said.
The political analyst also argued that Obi performed strongly in the 2023 presidential election, claiming that available indications showed he won in several states but was not declared the overall winner.
“In the last election, Peter Obi had almost more than half of the electorate on his side. There were clear indications that he won in Rivers, Plateau and some Northern states but INEC didn’t declare him winner,” Amadi said.
He further contended that if the 2023 election had been free, fair and credible, Obi would have emerged President of Nigeria.
Amadi’s comments come as political parties and presidential candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 elections, with the campaign period already underway and the major contenders seeking to consolidate support across the country’s geopolitical zones.
He maintained that the growing support for Obi, particularly among youths, could significantly alter the traditional electoral calculations ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.
