Hon. Kasimu Maigari, a member of the ADC National Legislators’ Forum, has claimed that former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has substantially slowed down the long-standing Igbo presidency ambition, allegedly pushing it back by two decades.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News, Maigari linked the development to the political structure and momentum surrounding Obi ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“My worry is not if Peter Obi will win the presidency; my worry is that Peter Obi has pushed Igbo’s 20 years backwards from getting the Presidency,” he said.
He argued that Obi’s rising political movement, along with that of other regional figures, has not strengthened the Igbo presidency project but instead created fragmentation and unrealistic political expectations.
“Peter Obi will not win the 2027 election; it is very obvious. The only people who follow Obi and Kwankwaso are those who think they will rise on their backs to get elected and then defect and leave them,” he said.
Maigari further alleged that a large portion of Obi’s supporters are politically strategic rather than ideologically committed, claiming they are primarily seeking elective offices through his influence.
“99 per cent of those running around Peter Obi have the ambition of running either state of Assembly, House of Rep or governor and the only easiest way for them to win an election is when Peter Obi or Rabiu Kwakwanso is on the ballot,” he added.
He maintained that without Obi on the ballot, many of his supporters would struggle to secure electoral victories independently.
“Anything short of that, they are not going to make it. and they have misled their principals, and unfortunately, the principals fall into their traps.”
Turning attention to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Maigari insisted that the party remains united and strategically positioned ahead of the 2027 elections.
“ADC remain intact, Peter Obi is going to serve as our agent in the places Tinubu thought he was going to make it, and this is our advantage as ADC.”
He concluded that despite ongoing political realignments, the ADC remains cohesive and focused on future electoral contests.
