2027: Obi said he was more popular than Atiku – Dele Momodu

2027: Obi said he was more popular than Atiku – Dele Momodu

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has claimed that Peter Obi once rejected his advice to work politically with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, insisting that he was more popular than the former presidential candidate.

Momodu made the revelation during an interview on Symfoni TV on Monday while reflecting on his relationship with Obi and the dynamics within Nigeria’s opposition politics.

Obi, who served as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket in the 2019 presidential election, later left the PDP for the Labour Party, where he contested the 2023 presidential election. He finished behind President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Atiku.

In 2025, Obi joined Atiku and other opposition figures, including Rabiu Kwankwaso and Rotimi Amaechi, in the ADC. However, both Obi and Kwankwaso later defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), citing internal crises within the opposition coalition.

Speaking on his interactions with Obi, Momodu said he had repeatedly encouraged the former Anambra State governor to consider working closely with Atiku, drawing parallels with political developments in Ghana and the United States.

“Peter is the only politician who has visited my home in London, Ghana and Lagos,” Momodu said.

“In one of the visits, I told Peter, ‘Try and work with Atiku.’ I gave him copious examples that if Mahama was not a vice president to Atta Mills, maybe he would never have become President of Ghana because he came from the minority, just like Jonathan of Nigeria.

“I gave him the example of America, where even though Biden was much older than Obama, he still came back to become President because he was able to demonstrate his capacity.

“You have only been a governor of a state, but Peter told me that he’s more popular than Atiku. I swear to God. If you see him, ask him if I lied against him.”

Both Obi and Atiku are now presidential candidates of their respective parties ahead of the 2027 general election.

Momodu also addressed the current political climate, alleging that many political stakeholders who publicly support President Bola Tinubu privately harbour reservations about his return to office.

According to him, several governors backing the President are doing so publicly while secretly hoping for a different outcome in the next election.

“A lot of the governors who are supporting Tinubu are praying silently that he will not return. Because they know if he wins, he will become a full-blown emperor.

“Talk to a lot of them privately. They will tell you that it is not in their interest for Asiwaju to come back,” he said.

The media entrepreneur further criticised the influence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, arguing that his political strength is largely derived from presidential backing.

Momodu also faulted President Tinubu’s handling of the political crisis in Rivers State, particularly the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.

“Fubara himself has not been able to say it, but I can say that Tinubu was very cruel. You declared a state of emergency in a state where there was nothing,” he said.