A heated exchange occurred between Arise TV anchor, Rufai Oseni, and research professor Femi Otubanjo during Monday’s edition of The Morning Show while discussing Peter Obi’s 2027 presidential ambition and the political calculations in the South-East.
Otubanjo, a research professor at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, argued that Obi’s strong support in the South-East is largely influenced by the region’s desire to produce Nigeria’s next president.
He questioned whether Obi’s candidacy had provided enough reasons beyond the South-East’s regional ambition for Nigerians to see him as the strongest alternative in the 2027 election.
The professor also argued that opposition politicians cannot depend solely on public dissatisfaction over economic hardship, insecurity, food inflation and the rising cost of living to defeat President Bola Tinubu.
According to him, opposition candidates must present clear programmes and convince Nigerians that they have what it takes to lead the country.
The conversation also focused on the role of state governors in the 2027 election. Otubanjo described governors as important political players because of their political structures and influence over voters, but warned that it would be wrong to assume that every governor could automatically deliver their state to a particular presidential candidate.
He further cautioned against viewing the North as a single voting bloc, noting that political interests and voting patterns vary from one state to another.
On Tinubu’s chances, Otubanjo said the President would have the advantage of incumbency and an established political structure going into the 2027 election. However, he stressed that these advantages alone would not guarantee victory.
The exchange has sparked further discussion about Obi’s support base, the South-East’s quest for the presidency and the strategies opposition candidates would need to defeat Tinubu in 2027.
With the 2027 presidential election drawing closer, the debate over regional interests, political structures and the strength of the opposition is expected to intensify.