As Nigeria edges closer to the 2027 general elections, a new wave of political recalibration is sweeping across the country, with former Jigawa State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Sule Lamido, declaring readiness to support former Anambra Governor Peter Obi—should he emerge as the consensus candidate of an opposition coalition.
Lamido, a founding member of the PDP, said while he remains committed to his party, he is open to backing any candidate—Obi included—who is genuinely committed to rescuing Nigeria from its current challenges.
“If the coalition produces Peter Obi or anyone else committed to rescuing Nigeria, I will support them,” Lamido affirmed. “We should have outgrown tribal and regional sentiments. Leadership should be about competence and vision, not geography.”
He further described the PDP’s long-standing zoning arrangement as a temporary mechanism born out of the annulment of the June 12, 1993, election, which, according to him, has now become a political albatross.
Lamido’s remarks come as the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) signals a possible alignment with Obi. The MBF’s National President, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, explained that Obi’s promise to serve a single term if elected is gaining traction in the North, especially given his perceived record of integrity.
“In the current political climate, the North doesn’t have many viable options,” Pogu noted. “Peter Obi’s consistency and his promise to serve just one term could make him a unifying figure.”
However, Obi’s one-term proposal has been met with a wave of skepticism from northern political figures. Former Minister of Information, Ibrahim Nakande, dismissed it as political posturing. “There’s no guarantee he would stick to it,” he said.
Elder statesman Alhaji Tanko Yakasai argued instead that President Bola Tinubu, if re-elected in 2027, is constitutionally bound to leave office in 2031, making him a more reliable option for a northern handover.
From a more critical standpoint, the Arewa Defence League (ADL) denounced the idea of rotational presidency and one-term deals as outdated. ADL President, Alhaji Murtala Abubakar, insisted that leadership should be based on merit and not on regional negotiations.
“The call for a one-term Southern president in 2027 is a divisive tactic,” Abubakar said. “Nigerians deserve competent leaders, not those forced on them by political arithmetic.”
The North’s historical distrust over such arrangements was echoed by Alhaji Muhammad Danlami of the Arewa Youth Assembly, who recalled that former President Goodluck Jonathan broke a similar one-term promise. “The North will not be deceived again,” he warned.
Meanwhile, the Obidient Movement insists Obi’s message is gaining ground. Its Global Coordinator, Alhaji Tanko Yunusa, pointed to Obi’s growing acceptance in the North, evidenced by his recent conferment of a traditional title by the Pantami Emirate in Gombe.
“Peter Obi’s actions are rebuilding trust,” Yunusa said. “His proposal to serve a single term is resonating. In fact, his popularity in the North has grown significantly since the 2023 elections.”
Still, several northern figures, including former ACF Secretary General Anthony Sani and ex-lawmaker Bitrus Kaze, urged caution, arguing that the promise of a one-term presidency may not be enough to sway a skeptical northern electorate.
Alhaji Jamilu Charanchi of the Coalition of Northern Groups summarized the uncertainty: “Only time will reveal where the North’s true allegiance lies. Sweet words won’t decide 2027—actions will.”
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