A member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) National Legislators’ Forum, Hon. Kasimu Maigari, has launched a scathing critique of Peter Obi’s political movement, claiming the former Labour Party presidential candidate has inadvertently pushed the quest for an Igbo presidency back by two decades.
Speaking during an interview on *ARISE News*, Maigari argued that while Obi’s candidacy in 2023 generated significant momentum, his current political trajectory is undermining the long-term regional aspirations of the Southeast rather than strengthening them.
“My worry is not whether Peter Obi will win the presidency; my worry is that Peter Obi has pushed the Igbos’ quest for the presidency 20 years backward,” Maigari stated.
**‘Opportunistic Supporters’**
Maigari further dismissed the possibility of an Obi victory in the 2027 general elections, characterizing the movement around both Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as one driven by individual political survival rather than ideological commitment.
He alleged that a vast majority of those currently rallying behind the two leaders are doing so only to leverage their popularity to secure seats in State Assemblies, the House of Representatives, or governorship positions.
“Peter Obi will not win the 2027 election; it is very obvious,” Maigari said. “The only people who follow Obi and Kwankwaso are those who think they will rise on their backs to get elected and then defect. About 99 percent of those running around Peter Obi have ambitions for the State Assembly or the House of Reps. They see him as the easiest pathway to electoral success.”
He warned that these supporters have “trapped” their principals by misleading them about the true strength of their grassroots structures, claiming that without Obi on the ballot, most of these candidates would struggle to win elections independently.
**ADC’s Strategy and Regional Impact**
Despite the recent high-profile exits of Obi and Kwankwaso from the ADC-aligned coalition to join the NDC, Maigari insisted that the ADC remains united and strategically positioned for 2027.
Interestingly, he suggested that Obi’s continued participation in the race might serve as a strategic advantage for the ADC by splitting the opposition and ruling party votes in key areas.
“The ADC remains intact. In fact, Peter Obi is going to serve as our ‘agent’ in the places where [President] Tinubu thought he was going to make it. This is our advantage as ADC,” Maigari claimed, suggesting the party intends to capitalize on the fragmented political landscape.
**Internal Dissent in the NDC Camp?**
Maigari’s comments follow a series of cautionary notes from other political figures. Recently, Obi’s 2023 running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, raised concerns over the structure of the Obi-Kwankwaso alliance, while former PDP spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi described the duo’s exit from the ADC as “painful but not a fatal blow.”
As the 2027 race begins to take shape, Maigari’s remarks underscore the growing debate over whether the “Obidient” movement is a genuine path to a regional presidency or a disruptive force that has complicated the Southeast’s traditional political alliances.
