2027 Election: Why Peter Obi may never win the core North – Hannatu Musawa

Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, has said that former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, does not have what it takes to win elections in Nigeria’s core northern region.

Musawa made the statement during a recent political interview, where she dismissed Obi’s chances of securing significant electoral support in the North.

According to her, there is little Obi can do to change voting outcomes in the region, stressing that regional dynamics and political structures play a major role.

“There’s nothing Peter Obi will do in the core North that will make him win elections there,” she said.

She went on to compare Obi’s political movement to the early presidential bids of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who contested several times without success before finally winning with broader political backing.

“His movement reminds me of Buhari in 2003, 2007 and 2011. Buhari tried to win on his own multiple times but couldn’t until Tinubu intervened,” Musawa stated.

She explained that Buhari only succeeded after forming strong alliances, particularly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which helped him gain wider national support.

Peter Obi recently announced his defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), stating that his decision to leave the Labour Party was driven by patriotism and a desire to rescue Nigeria from the APC-led government.

As Nigeria gradually moves toward another election cycle, the remarks have drawn attention to the continued influence of regional politics in determining electoral outcomes.