The criticism that the presidential bid of the Labour party’s flag bearer, Mr. Peter Obi, is just an online movement instigated by “some youths sitting in a room” has long faded as the former governor of Anambra state has successfully held massive rallies in not just the southern region of the country where he is known and recognized, but also in the northern states (e.g Taraba and Jos).
Surprisingly, these campaign rallies in the northern states have recorded tens of thousands of attendees across age groups and tribes. Be reminded that Peter Obi’s Labour Party has no presence in either governorships or state houses of assembly, two seats out of the 360 available in the House and just one out of the 109 available in the senate.
Many claims Peter Obi has reportedly won the hearts of many Nigerians, following his continuous charming display of eloquence, insight and enthusiasm. Others argue that his popularity so far in the north is due to the influence of his running mate, Senator Yusuf Datti Ahmed, who represented Zaria Federal Constituency in 2003 and Kaduna north in 2011. Whether or not this is true, political analysts and various stakeholders have opined that the presidential candidate is a major contender even in the regions the other leading candidates seemingly hold as their terrain.
Furthermore, Google reported yesterday that Peter Obi and Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed topped the list of the most searches for a presidential duo for 2023 in Nigeria.
State of play
Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party and two-term governor of Anambra state is relatively a newcomer to the country’s national political space; although he served as a running mate to Alhaji Atiku of PDP in 2019; a leading candidate in the 2023 presidential race. The presidential candidate, an indigenous southeastern, with running mate Senator Yusuf Datti Ahmed, a northerner, is looking to break the dominance of the PDP and APC who have jointly led the country for 24 years.