2027: We’re struggling to sell Peter Obi in the North – Galadima

By Tolulope Oke

Buba Galadima has acknowledged the strong resistance confronting efforts to sell Peter Obi’s presidential candidacy to voters in northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 election.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress chieftain said promoters of the Peter Obi-Rabiu Kwankwaso ticket had been called several names and accused of attempting to bring an Igbo man into power.

Galadima, a close political ally of Kwankwaso, made the remarks during an exclusive interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Wednesday.

He described the proposed partnership as Nigeria’s “healing ticket,” claiming it was designed to reconcile the North and the South-East and address longstanding mistrust between both regions.

“It is our belief that this is the only ticket that can salvage Nigeria,” Galadima said.

He disclosed that he and other supporters had been working for more than two years to improve relations between northern and South-East political leaders.

According to him, their goal is to convince Nigerians to see Obi as a national candidate rather than an ethnic choice.

“We are making Peter Obi a Nigerian president, not an Igbo president,” he declared.

Galadima admitted that the campaign had attracted hostility from both the ruling All Progressives Congress and rival opposition parties.

“We have been called several names: ‘Oh, you are bringing an Igbo man,’” he said.

“Unfortunately, it’s not only the ruling APC government criticising us, but even some opposition political parties.”

He accused opposition figures of fighting among themselves instead of concentrating on their efforts to defeat the APC.

Galadima also challenged supporters of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar who criticised the ticket, reminding them that Obi was Atiku’s running mate during the 2019 presidential election.

He noted that Atiku had previously selected Ben Obi, Peter Obi and Ifeanyi Okowa as running mates during his different presidential campaigns.

Galadima said the proposed Obi-Kwankwaso government would prioritise insecurity, agriculture and education, particularly in northern Nigeria.

He claimed Obi had agreed to personally address the three sectors and involve northern stakeholders in developing solutions if elected.

The NDC chieftain also acknowledged that politicians of his generation contributed to the ethnic and religious divisions now confronting the country.

“Of course, we did create this problem. We were part of it,” he admitted.

Galadima further accused the APC administration of neglecting agriculture and pursuing food-importation policies that he claimed had harmed local farmers, although he presented no supporting figures during the interview.

He said the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket would invest in agriculture, local manufacturing and practical skills to tackle unemployment.

Despite the resistance confronting the campaign in the North, Galadima maintained that the alliance was not built around ethnic or religious interests.

“This ticket is not about Igbos, Hausas, Yorubas, Islam or Christianity. This ticket is about Nigeria,” he said.