Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Former Borno State Governor and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has levelled a sweeping allegation against the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, accusing him of pursuing an agenda to divide Nigeria because, according to Sheriff, Obi "believes in Biafra." The allegation, made during an interview on Channels Television's 'Politics Today' programme on Monday, 6 July 2026, came in reaction to Obi's recent call for President Bola Tinubu to resign over the country's worsening security and economic situation.
Sheriff, who has consistently dismissed Obi's presidential ambitions since he emerged as a formidable opposition figure in the 2023 election, argued that Obi's silence on separatist agitation is evidence of his true intentions. "Peter Obi, up to this moment, is pursuing the division of Nigeria because he believes in Biafra. He never condemns Biafra or the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as he wants to divide Nigeria. He should come out and say if he doesn't believe in the division of the country. Anybody aspiring to lead Nigeria must be someone who stands for Nigeria, not for any section," Sheriff declared.
The former governor's remarks add to a growing list of criticisms directed at Obi's political positioning ahead of the 2027 general election. Sheriff maintained that Obi's failure to publicly condemn IPOB and its separatist campaign raises fundamental questions about his commitment to Nigeria's unity. He insisted that anyone seeking the highest office in the land must demonstrate an unequivocal stance against any movement that threatens the country's territorial integrity.
Beyond the secession allegation, Sheriff also argued that Obi would struggle to attract support from Northern voters, dismissing the former Anambra governor's electoral prospects. "I am not worried about Peter Obi at all because I know Northerners will never vote for Peter Obi," Sheriff stated. When reminded that Obi won substantial votes in states such as Plateau and Nasarawa during the 2023 presidential election, Sheriff argued that the political landscape had changed and that many Northerners remained dissatisfied with Obi's tenure as governor of Anambra State. He alleged: "When Peter Obi was governor, he chased Northerners out of Anambra State."
Sheriff further claimed that supporters of former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso had voiced opposition to any political alliance involving Obi, citing feedback from Kano residents. "This is what people in Kano are telling Kwankwaso now. They say they have always supported him and will continue to do so if he contests for president, but they will not support him if he aligns with Peter Obi," he said.
On the broader 2027 presidential race, Sheriff expressed confidence that President Tinubu would secure re-election but stressed that the APC would not take victory for granted. He also dismissed the prospects of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is expected to contest on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, maintaining that power should remain in the South until 2031. According to Sheriff, Nigeria's political leaders reached an informal understanding after the civil war to promote regional balance by rotating the presidency between the North and the South. "For Atiku, this is not the North's turn. He is a respected leader and eminently qualified, but he has to wait until 2031. President Buhari completed eight years in office, so it is now the South's turn," he said.
Sheriff also defended President Tinubu's record on security, urging Nigerians to assess the administration based on the reforms it has introduced rather than condemning it for challenges that predate its tenure. He pointed to the administration's push for state police as one of the measures intended to improve security across the country. "We should not simply condemn the President because there is insecurity in Nigeria," he said.
As of the time of filing this report, Peter Obi had not publicly responded to Sheriff's allegations. Obi, who came third in the 2023 presidential election with more than six million votes on the Labour Party platform, is seeking the presidency again in 2027 under the newly registered Nigeria Democratic Congress. He has consistently maintained that his criticisms of the Tinubu administration are focused on governance, economic hardship and insecurity, and has repeatedly called for reforms aimed at improving the country's leadership. Sheriff's accusations, however, have injected a new and contentious dimension into the political discourse ahead of the 2027 elections, reigniting debates over regional identity, national unity, and the boundaries of political opposition in Nigeria's increasingly charged electoral environment.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments