By Musa Baba Adamu
A prominent political scientist, Udenta Udenta, has projected that President Bola Tinubu could face defeat in 2027 if the opposition fields a formidable, regionally balanced ticket anchored by Peter Obi.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, monitored in Abuja, Udenta argued that a southern candidate like Obi, paired with a credible northern running mate, would present a serious electoral threat to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Any pairing today, a Peter Obi in the South and anyone else in the North, will defeat Bola Tinubu in 2027,” he declared, underscoring the importance of regional balance in Nigeria’s electoral dynamics.
The former National Secretary of the Alliance for Democracy identified Obi as the most visible opposition figure in southern Nigeria, stressing that the choice of a strong northern counterpart would be decisive in consolidating nationwide support.
“The pairing in the South… is clearly Peter Obi. The decision regarding who they choose in the North is for them to determine,” he said.
Udenta’s position comes amid intensifying coalition talks within opposition circles, particularly around the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which is increasingly being touted as a possible platform for a unified challenge against the APC.
Beyond political permutations, Udenta pointed to worsening economic realities as a major factor that could shape voter behavior, warning that public dissatisfaction may translate into electoral consequences for the current administration.
“For Nigerians to long for the Buhari presidency is indicative of the failures of the Tinubu-led government,” he said, arguing that everyday hardship—not macroeconomic statistics—will ultimately drive voter decisions.
“How were we on May 29, 2023, and how are we today? … We are in a worse situation today,” he added, noting that rising hardship and declining living standards could become decisive issues at the polls.
His comments add to growing pressure on both the ruling party and opposition blocs, as early alignments and strategic calculations begin to define the road to 2027.
