A former Lagos State lawmaker, Mr. Jude Idimogu, has appealed to Mr. Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, to put aside his ambition for 2027 and support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, Idimogu, who serves as the Deputy Leader of Ndigbo in Lagos APC, expressed confidence that Obi would not be able to defeat Tinubu in the next presidential race, regardless of the party platform he chooses.
“I strongly agree with the appeal to Obi. He should support Tinubu as both leaders are from the South,” he said.
The APC chieftain threw his weight behind an earlier appeal made by the Deputy President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, who also urged Obi to align with Tinubu ahead of the 2027 polls.
According to Idimogu, another presidential bid by Obi would only fragment support from the South and potentially weaken the region’s chances of holding onto national leadership.
“This is the South’s turn. Let’s not allow another Southern candidate to disrupt the zoning and help Northern interests,” he stressed.
He likened the current political situation to that of 2015 when northern leaders rallied behind Muhammadu Buhari despite widespread opposition, adding that such unity helped the North retain power for eight years.
“Tinubu deserves full support. He cannot undo Nigeria’s problems in two years. With unity, progress is possible,” he stated.
Idimogu argued that standing behind Tinubu would ensure continued southern representation in the presidency and reinforce equity in national governance.
While acknowledging that Obi reserves the constitutional right to run, he urged Igbo leaders to act in the interest of the region by backing Tinubu’s second term.
He also called on influential northern politicians to support Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, as a way to uphold fairness and contribute to the country’s political stability.
According to him, while it is healthy for the opposition to critique government and offer alternatives, national cohesion must come first.
“Neither PDP nor ADC has a candidate strong enough to unseat Tinubu,” Idimogu maintained.
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