A broadcaster with Arise Television, Rufai Oseni, has said former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi remains the most formidable opposition figure capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
Oseni made the remarks on Monday during The Morning Show, where he analysed emerging political alignments and early projections ahead of the next electoral cycle.
According to him, recent developments surrounding the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) could trigger internal disputes and legal challenges, particularly following the party’s expansion and influx of high-profile politicians.
He further alleged that there are ongoing efforts within political circles aimed at preventing Obi from contesting in the 2027 election. Oseni argued that internal assessments and “political mapping” conducted across major parties indicate that Obi is widely viewed as the only opposition candidate with the capacity to mount a significant electoral challenge to the incumbent president.
“I think it’s going to be the beginning of more troubles for the NDC because litigations will begin, including those concerning its registration,” he said.
Oseni added that strategies to weaken Obi’s candidacy may already be in motion. “The idea here is Peter Obi not being on the ballot. All the forces will do everything to ensure that,” he stated, noting that various political parties have conducted internal analyses pointing to Obi as a major contender.
He also linked recent tensions within opposition ranks to these broader political calculations, suggesting that efforts to shape the 2027 contest are already underway.
Meanwhile, Obi and former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso have recently aligned with the NDC. Both politicians were formally received into the party by its national leader, Seriake Dickson, alongside other party executives and supporters at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
The developments signal early manoeuvring among political actors as attention gradually shifts toward the 2027 presidential race.
