Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation magazine and a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has predicted that Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), will defeat President Bola Tinubu and his supporters in the South-East and parts of the South-South in the 2027 general election.
Gatekeepers News reports that Momodu made the prediction on Wednesday during an interview on Prime Time, a programme on Arise News, where he discussed the political prospects of opposition figures ahead of the next presidential election.
Describing Obi’s popularity in the two geopolitical zones, Momodu said, “Peter Obi is a rock star where he comes from, especially in the South-East and the South-South.”
He argued that Obi’s influence in the regions could pose a challenge to Tinubu’s re-election bid, adding that the president would need considerable support across southern Nigeria to secure another term.
“The scenario is different this time. Peter Obi will humiliate Tinubu and all his supporters in the South-East and some parts of the South-South. And that’s dangerous for Tinubu,” Momodu said.
He added that Tinubu would need to secure support across the three southern geopolitical zones while also competing for votes in the North.
“For Tinubu to win, he needs to lock down all the three regions in the South,” he said, noting that the president would have to work harder to attract northern voters following the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who supported Tinubu during the 2023 election.
Momodu, however, declared his support for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who is seeking the presidency under the ADC platform. He said he would welcome efforts by opposition leaders to unite ahead of the 2027 polls.
The publisher also predicted that Obi would defeat Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo in the state during the presidential election, following Soludo’s declaration of support for Tinubu.
“I can bet my life on it that Peter Obi will humiliate and disgrace Soludo in Anambra State. I have no question about that,” Momodu said.
Soludo, a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has criticised Obi’s record as Anambra governor, including claims concerning the state’s debts and unpaid salaries when Obi left office in 2014. Obi has maintained that he cleared the state’s debts before leaving office.
Momodu’s remarks come as political parties and opposition leaders position themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
