Former National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Salihu Lukman, has advised supporters of Peter Obi, popularly known as Obidients, to reflect on their performance in the 2023 general elections and avoid repeating past errors as opposition parties gear up for the 2027 polls.
Obi, who contested as the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in 2023, finished third behind the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
While speaking on Morning Brief, a Channels Television programme, Lukman observed that despite the Obidient movement’s strong presence online and in public discourse, their absence at critical junctures during the elections contributed significantly to Obi’s challenges.
“In the case of the Obidients, they must also avoid the mistake of 2023. They were all over the place making all manner of arguments, but one of the limitations of the Obidients is that when it gets to the crunch, at the decisive moment, they become absent. That was why Peter Obi suffered the kind of problem he had as a presidential candidate,” he said.
Lukman identified the lack of polling agents in several parts of the country as a major weakness in Obi’s campaign. He stressed that going forward, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and allied political groups are focused on building a stronger opposition structure across the nation to prevent similar setbacks in the 2027 elections.
The former APC vice chairman added that the coalition will stand behind any candidate that emerges from its ranks to challenge the ruling party in the next election cycle.
“As APC, we are going to act now to strengthen each and every one of them—whoever emerges. And we are now appealing to the Obidients to really understand that the ADC and the coalition is the horn for them. They should come and let’s build ourselves together.
“If Peter Obi tomorrow emerges as the presidential candidate, we will support him and strengthen him to overcome the shortcomings of the past. So also any other person. If it is Atiku Abubakar that emerges, for instance, we will support him and strengthen him in such a way that he doesn’t repeat the mistake of former President Muhammadu Buhari who, although from the North, ended up almost sacrificing the North,” he added.
Lukman also called for sincerity and unity among Nigerians in political discourse, highlighting the importance of honest engagement in the country’s democratic development.
“I think these are issues which as citizens, as Nigerians, we must be very honest and frank in engaging if we are going to move this country forward,” he said.
The ADC-led coalition, which includes several opposition blocs, has been actively engaging in discussions to form a unified front against the APC in anticipation of the 2027 general elections.
