Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has stated that the support of state governors alone will not determine the outcome of the 2027 general election.
Speaking during a recent interview in Washington, D.C., Obi argued that electoral success ultimately depends on voters rather than political endorsements.
He noted that during the 2023 presidential election, he contested without the backing of sitting governors yet still secured victories in several states.
The former Anambra State governor made the remarks while responding to discussions about political alignments ahead of the 2027 elections and the influence of governors on the electoral process.
Obi maintained that public support remains the most important factor in any democratic contest, adding that the focus should be on engaging citizens and addressing the issues affecting Nigerians.
“For the 2027 election, it doesn’t matter if all 36 governors are with President Tinubu. I didn’t have a single governor in the last election, yet I won 12 states, even after they stole two states from me.
“By making Abuja a state, we now have 37 states because that’s what the judgment of the Supreme Court showed.
“Senator Rabi’u Kwankwaso won one state, and that was Kano. The APC, PDP and Labour Party won 12 states each. And it, I lost two by the process of rigging, I would have had 12 states,” he said.
His comments come amid increasing political activity ahead of the next general election, with parties and candidates already positioning themselves for the race. President Bola Tinubu is expected to seek re-election, while opposition figures continue to build support across the country.
Recall that Obi finished third in the 2023 presidential election, polling over 6.1 million votes and emerging as one of the leading opposition candidates in the contest.
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“For the 2027 election, it doesn’t matter if all 36 governors are with President Tinubu. I didn’t have a single governor in the last election, yet I won 12 states, even after they støle two states from me.”
— NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, during a recent interview in… pic.twitter.com/tRfM4jJa6O
— CHUKS 🍥 (@ChuksEricE) June 11, 2026