Director of the Abuja School of Social Thought and Politics, Sam Amadi, has argued that the focus of the 2027 presidential race appears to be shifting away from President Bola Tinubu toward opposition figure Peter Obi.
In a post on X, Amadi claimed that most political actors are effectively positioning themselves against Obi rather than the incumbent president, describing the situation as unusual and “the most farcical election” in Nigeria’s history. He also criticized what he called the involvement of “self-proclaimed intellectuals and technocrats” in what he sees as flawed political reasoning.
Obi, who ran in the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party, is expected to contest again in 2027. He is likely to face President Bola Tinubu, alongside other major contenders such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is associated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in recent political alignments.
The comment by Director of the Abuja School of Social Thought and Politics, Sam Amadi, comes amid growing early political positioning ahead of the 2027 general elections in Nigeria.
BACKSTORY…
Since the 2023 presidential election, where Peter Obi emerged as a major contender under the Labour Party, Nigeria’s political landscape has remained highly polarized, with discussions about future elections beginning almost immediately after the polls ended.
In recent weeks, political debates on social media and in public discourse have increasingly focused on the emerging dynamics between key political figures, including President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and Obi. Analysts and commentators have been weighing possible alliances, voter blocs, and opposition strategies ahead of 2027.
It was against this backdrop that Sam Amadi took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his view that the political competition appears disproportionately centered on Obi rather than the incumbent president. He described the trend as unusual and suggested that it reflects a distorted framing of the upcoming election, which he termed “the most farcical” in Nigeria’s electoral history.
His remarks add to ongoing debates about how opposition politics is shaping up early, and who the main focal point of political contestation may ultimately be as the 2027 elections draw closer.
