Former National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Peter Ameh, has said that people in northern Nigeria have accepted Peter Obi’s presidential ambition and his proposal to serve only a single term if elected in 2027.
Speaking in an interview on Channels Television, Ameh stated that mechanisms would be established to protect Obi’s growing popularity in the region, ensuring that the irregularities experienced in the last election are not repeated.
Ameh argued that Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, is not seeking the office to learn on the job. He contrasted Obi’s approach with what he described as the “it’s-my-turn” mentality attributed to President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“I am from northern Nigeria, and we know, as I speak today, that the current available decision of our people favours Peter Obi,” Ameh said. He described the North as a diverse and complex political environment, but not as impenetrable as some believe.
According to him, Obi’s performance in states such as Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, and Plateau during the last election demonstrated his appeal in the region. He stressed the need for a free, fair, and credible electoral process in 2027.
Ameh highlighted Obi’s public pledge to serve only one term in order to maintain what he called Nigeria’s “unwritten arrangement” for political balance. He said this stance, along with qualities such as compassion, discipline, character, and competence, should take precedence over ethnic or religious considerations in leadership selection.
He vowed that supporters in the North would challenge any unlawful actions aimed at undermining voters’ choices. “We are going to challenge all the illegal processes that were used to undermine our voters and the outcome of the election, and we are going to put mechanisms in place to defend the popularity that Peter Obi has gotten and the acceptance he now enjoys,” he said.
Ameh’s remarks come amid heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition forces positioning themselves to contest the ruling party’s dominance.
