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President Tinubu’s Group, Renewed Hope, Urges Peter Obi to Step Aside in 2027, Back Tinubu for Southeast’s Long-Term Gain
President Tinubu’s Group, Renewed Hope, Urges Peter Obi to Step Aside in 2027, Back Tinubu for Southeast’s Long-Term Gain
The Southeast chapter of the Renewed Hope for Greater Nigeria (RHGN) has launched a fresh political initiative aimed at persuading former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race and support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The group said its move was driven by the need for the Southeast to adopt a long-term political strategy that could improve the region’s chances of producing Nigeria’s president at a future date.
The Southeast Coordinator of RHGN, Mazi Franklin Ngoforo, disclosed the plan in Owerri, Imo State, on Saturday, following a meeting with members of the organisation.
Ngoforo said the group would seek the intervention of prominent Igbo leaders and respected statesmen whom it believes could engage Obi and persuade him to reconsider his decision to contest the 2027 presidential election.
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He identified the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, headed by Senator John Azuta Mbata, as one of the key groups the organisation intends to approach. He also listed former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, and former Chief of Naval Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, among the respected Igbo figures expected to play a role in the proposed intervention.
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According to Ngoforo, the delegation would be encouraged to meet with Obi and appeal to him to temporarily put aside his presidential ambition in the interest of what RHGN considers the broader political interests of the Southeast.
The group stressed that the proposed intervention was not intended to question Obi’s political relevance or diminish his influence among Nigerians, particularly his strong support base across the country.
Instead, RHGN wants the former governor to consider whether postponing his presidential ambition could ultimately provide greater political opportunities for the Southeast.
Ngoforo argued that the region should look beyond the immediate 2027 presidential contest and begin developing a political strategy that could yield results over several election cycles.
Rather than focusing entirely on whether an Igbo candidate emerges as president in 2027, he said the Southeast should explore strategic alliances with other regions that could create a pathway for the region to secure the presidency at a later time.
The RHGN coordinator identified the Southwest as a potential strategic partner, suggesting that the Southeast could pursue a mutually beneficial political understanding with the region.
He pointed to the possibility of Tinubu securing another term in 2027, noting that the President would then be constitutionally restricted from seeking another term afterward.
Ngoforo argued that the period could provide the Southeast with an opportunity to strengthen political relationships, build goodwill and negotiate reciprocal commitments that could become important when presidential power is eventually contested again.
He maintained that supporting the Southwest at the present stage could potentially create a political understanding capable of strengthening the Southeast’s position when the presidency next rotates within the southern region.
The RHGN leader further warned against viewing Nigeria’s presidential politics through the lens of only one election cycle, insisting that political calculations should take into account future electoral opportunities.
He therefore urged Obi to see stepping aside from the 2027 contest as a strategic postponement rather than the abandonment of his presidential ambition.
According to him, such a decision could give the Southeast more time to consolidate relationships across the country, establish strategic alliances and secure political commitments that could strengthen the region’s position in a future presidential race.
The initiative comes as political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections intensifies, with political groups and influential figures exploring alliances and strategies that could shape the presidential contest and determine the direction of Nigeria’s next major political realignment.
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