Key allies of former presidential candidate Peter Obi have issued a stark warning that returning the presidency to Northern Nigeria in the 2027 elections would pose a grave threat to the nation’s unity and stability.
The caution was delivered by Dr. Yunus Tanko, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, during a press briefing in the nation’s capital on Saturday.
The Obidient Movement, the grassroots political force that propelled Obi’s 2023 presidential bid, has firmly positioned itself as a guardian of the unwritten principle of rotational presidency between the North and South.
Dr. Tanko articulated that the political stability Nigeria has enjoyed since 1999 is precariously balanced on this understanding of power alternation.
He argued that breaching this convention after the eight-year tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari, a Northerner, would be a reckless gamble with national cohesion.
“This country is built on mutual understanding and equity,” Dr. Tanko stated. “To ignore that by returning power to the North in 2027 would be not only unjust but dangerous to the unity and stability of our democracy.”
He framed the rotational principle as a critical mechanism for preserving harmony among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic and regional groups. “If the principle of rotation is jettisoned, it will send the wrong message to the rest of the country that some zones are destined to rule while others are to follow,” Tanko warned.
While the warning was directed at the entire political class, Dr. Tanko left no doubt about the Obidient Movement’s preferred candidate from the South. He unequivocally reaffirmed their support for Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s flagbearer in the last election.
“Peter Obi represents everything Nigerians are now looking for in leadership: integrity, capacity, and a genuine concern for the people,” Tanko said. “We believe he remains the most credible and qualified person to steer this country forward.”
The public declaration from Obi’s camp signals an early and assertive entry into the 2027 political conversation. It aims to set the terms of the debate around power rotation and position Peter Obi as the natural beneficiary of a Southern presidency.
Dr. Tanko concluded by urging Nigerians to prioritize justice and fairness in the upcoming electoral cycle. “This is not just about who becomes president,” he emphasized. “It’s about preserving the foundation of our nationhood. Justice and fairness must guide the next transition if we are to move forward as one country.”
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