Umahi Targets NDC Candidate Peter Obi, Says He Is No Match for Tinubu in 2027

The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has dismissed the political challenge posed by Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), ahead of the 2027 general election, saying Obi cannot match him politically, let alone defeat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Umahi said the Tinubu administration and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are not threatened by Obi’s emergence as a major opposition contender, insisting that the former Anambra State governor’s influence has been overstated.

The minister made the remarks during an interview on Arise News Daybreak, where he criticised what he described as an exaggerated perception of Obi’s political strength ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.

Obi, who previously contested the 2023 presidential election under the platform of the Labour Party, has emerged as the presidential candidate of the NDC for the 2027 election and remains one of the strongest critics of the Tinubu administration.

Umahi, however, argued that Obi’s political popularity is driven more by public perception and social media influence than actual electoral strength.

“Even I cannot be scared of Peter Obi, not to talk about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu or our party, the APC. What displays around Peter Obi is AI politics. It is putting something on nothing,” Umahi said.

“Nobody is scared of Peter Obi. He is not a threat to our president because Peter Obi himself knows very well that he cannot even face me, let alone face the president,” he added.

The minister’s comments come as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, with opposition parties positioning themselves against President Tinubu, who is expected to seek a second term in office.

Umahi also criticised Obi’s past comments about the performance of the Tinubu administration, particularly calls from opposition figures demanding changes in leadership over the country’s economic difficulties.

He questioned whether Obi, during his eight years as governor of Anambra State, would have met the same standards he now demands from the Federal Government.

“I read where it was said that Peter Obi said Tinubu should resign because of this, and I asked myself: How many times did Peter Obi resign as governor of Anambra State for failure to fix the roads, failure to establish industry, failure to empower people, failure to establish an airport or a seaport? Failure to pay contractors?” Umahi said.

The minister also criticised supporters of Obi, popularly known as the “Obidient” movement, accusing some members of responding aggressively to opposing opinions.

He alleged that some critics of Obi have faced insults, threats and legal actions for expressing contrary views.

“Look at the pattern of politics around Peter Obi. You disagree with him, then he takes you to court. How many times have you been abusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu? How many people has he taken to court?” Umahi said.

He challenged Obi’s supporters to focus on policy debates, particularly on infrastructure and economic reforms, rather than political attacks.

On the economy, Umahi defended President Tinubu’s reforms, arguing that the administration inherited long-standing structural problems that could not be resolved within a short period.

He said Nigerians should understand that economic recovery requires patience and consistent implementation of policies.

“The darkest part of the night is the dawn. There were so many practices by the previous administration that occasioned us into what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inherited,” he said.

“For those who are crying of hunger, put all the indices on the table. Is it road infrastructure? Is it education? Is it health? Which one has gone worse than how the president inherited it? When you are healing a wound, you don’t expect the wound to heal overnight. An economy doesn’t turn around instantly within three years.”

Umahi further argued that President Tinubu deserves another term, saying the administration’s reforms are beginning to produce results despite the hardship experienced by many Nigerians.

He maintained that no opposition candidate, including Obi, can match what he described as Tinubu’s achievements in governance and infrastructure development.

“Let people be fair, rather than just speaking because they want power. None of the political aspirants or candidates from other parties can do what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing. There are a lot of successes and reforms that are beginning to yield a lot of dividends. None of them can do what this man is doing,” Umahi said.