2027: Peter Obi is a regional champion, lacks national structure to win Presidency — Dino Melaye

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dino Melaye, has claimed that Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), lacks the national political structure required to win the 2027 presidential election.

Melaye made the assertion during an interview on the KaaTruths Podcast published on Friday.

The former Kogi State senator described Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, as a “regional champion”, arguing that he does not currently enjoy the nationwide political reach possessed by ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Obi contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Labour Party, finishing third behind Tinubu and Atiku, who emerged first and second respectively.

Although Obi won 11 states, including Lagos, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory, he recorded limited support in several northern and South-Western states.

According to Melaye, the 2023 election demonstrated that Obi’s strongest support base remained concentrated in the South-East.

“Atiku is a nationalist. Obi is a regional champion. It may sound awkward. It may sound offensive. Obi is a good man. He’s my friend. I have respect for him. But he’s a regional champion,” Melaye said.

“And no regional champion in this country will ever be president.”

‘Presidency requires national structure’

Melaye compared Obi with historical political figures such as Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Aminu Kano, whom he described as influential regional leaders who nevertheless struggled to translate their regional strength into presidential victory.

He also cited former President Muhammadu Buhari, arguing that despite his strong support base in the North, Buhari faced difficulties winning the presidency when his political appeal was perceived as largely regional.

“Today, if you cast this election again, Peter’s highest vote will only come from the southeast,” Melaye said.

He argued that presidential victory requires more than having a strong voting bloc in a particular region, noting that candidates must secure at least 25 per cent of votes in at least two-thirds of Nigeria’s states in addition to meeting the constitutional requirements for winning the presidency.

Melaye said the distinction between a national and regional candidate should be measured primarily by political structures rather than the geographical distribution of votes.

“When we say national and regional, it’s not primarily about where your votes are coming from. It’s about where you have structures. It’s about where you have structures,” he said.

He questioned Obi’s political organisation in several states, asking: “Where is Peter’s structure in Katsina? Where is his structure in Borno? Where is his structure in Ekiti? Where is his structure in Ondo?”

According to Melaye, Atiku has built a broader political network over several decades.

“But there is no state in this country that Atiku does not have a structure. Because whether you like it or not, having been vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he has influenced a lot of people from different parts of this country. So he has built structures over the years,” he said.

Melaye added that Atiku’s long political career had also given him experience and networks across the country.

“Atiku started contesting the election in 2011. He ran for presidency against MKO Abiola in 1992. Over the years, he has built structures and he has the experience. Today, Peter Obi doesn’t have that national structure,” he said.

‘Obi wants to be coronated’

Melaye also addressed Obi’s decision to leave the ADC after initially indicating interest in contesting the 2027 presidential election under the party.

Obi eventually left the ADC alongside Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and joined the NDC, where both politicians are expected to feature prominently in the opposition coalition ahead of the election.

Melaye said ADC members would have supported Obi if he had contested and won the party’s presidential primary.

He claimed that even Atiku, who eventually won the ADC primary after defeating former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, would have been urged to support Obi had the former Anambra governor emerged through the party’s internal process.

“But unfortunately, Peter prefers an air-conditioned kitchen. He doesn’t want primary. He just wants to be coronated,” Melaye said.

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