By Lateef Ibrahim
Former presidential media aide Bashir Ahmad has cautioned supporters of Peter Obi against assuming that the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) is assured of finishing second in the 2027 election.
Ahmad argued that the growing enthusiasm around Obi, particularly among members of the Obidient Movement, should not be mistaken for a reliable indication of his eventual electoral standing.
In a post on X on Saturday, the former aide to late President Muhammadu Buhari said the 2027 contest would be determined by factors beyond social media visibility and public sentiment.
“Any Obidient who genuinely believes that Mr. Peter Obi is guaranteed to finish second is simply being delusional and, frankly, does not understand the current political dynamics,” Ahmad wrote.
He urged Obi’s supporters to consider the realities of electoral politics, including political structures, voting numbers and regional calculations, rather than relying on the movement’s strong online presence.
“Sentiment and online enthusiasm are not substitutes for a serious assessment of the numbers, structures, regional calculations and electoral realities,” he added.
Obi, the former Anambra State governor, finished third in the 2023 presidential election, behind Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who won the election.
His emergence as the NDC’s presidential candidate has, however, repositioned him for another nationwide contest in 2027, with supporters seeking to build on the momentum generated by his 2023 campaign.
Ahmad’s comments come amid growing political realignments ahead of the election, as parties and presidential contenders intensify efforts to consolidate regional support, strengthen grassroots structures and attract voters beyond their traditional bases.
The former presidential aide’s position suggests that the race for the presidency, and even the battle for second place, could be significantly more competitive than the confidence expressed by some Obi supporters indicates.
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