The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday said former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi should abandon plans for the 2027 presidency after the LP lost at Obi’s own polling unit during Saturday’s Anambra governorship election.
Spokesman Seye Oladejo described the result as a decisive rejection by Obi’s neighbours and local supporters. “A man who cannot win his polling unit has no business dreaming of winning a country,” Oladejo said, adding that the outcome signalled “the complete disintegration of the myth around Peter Obi.”
Official results from Polling Unit 019, Agulu Ward 11, Anaocha Local Government Area — where Mr Obi voted — showed APC’s candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu, on 73 votes while LP’s George Moghalu polled 57. APGA trailed with 38. The result was confirmed during the day’s count.
The loss at Obi’s polling unit has been seized upon by ruling party figures as evidence of waning grassroots support for the Labour Party in parts of Anambra. Oladejo warned against what he called “desperation politics” and accused LP of seeking international sympathy rather than strengthening local structures.
Peter Obi, who has previously enjoyed strong backing in his home area, expressed concern about vote buying on Saturday, saying poor governance had fuelled the practice and alleging voters were offered cash to sell their votes. Observers say allegations of inducement and local dynamics around candidate roots and campaign organisation shaped several ward-level results.
Political analysts note that while a loss at a leader’s polling unit is politically symbolic, single-unit outcomes do not necessarily predict broader statewide or national trends. “Polling unit results can be influenced by local factors candidate presence, rival party mobilisation, or even isolated incidents — so caution is needed before drawing sweeping conclusions about national prospects,” one analyst observed.
