A former Lagos lawmaker, Jude Idimogu, has urged the Labour Party presidential candidate in 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi, to drop his presidential ambition and support President Bola Tinubu’s second term bid in 2027.
Idimogu, who is also the Deputy Leader of Ndigbo in the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made the call during an interaction with journalists at the weekend.
The former lawmaker said his advice had become necessary as it would be extremely difficult for Obi to defeat Tinubu in any political platform in the next presidential election.
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Idimogu said: “I strongly believe in this appeal to Obi, he should support Tinubu as both leaders are from the South.”
He said that Obi’s ambition would only divide Southern votes again and weaken the region’s chances in 2027.
“This is the South’s turn. Let’s not allow another Southern candidate to disrupt the zoning and help Northern interests,” he stated.
Idimogu compared the situation to late former President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year presidency, where northerners united behind their candidate despite public dissatisfaction.
“Tinubu deserves full support. He cannot undo Nigeria’s problems in two years. With unity, progress is possible,” he added.
Idimogu made it clear that a united Southern backing for Tinubu would guarantee a fair outcome and preserve the region’s hold on power.
While acknowledging Obi’s right to run, the APC chieftain urged Igbo leaders to prioritise regional interest and back Tinubu’s second term, even as he appealed to Northern politicians to also support Tinubu to complete a Southern presidency for equity and national stability.
Idimogu, who is the only Igbo politician to have served two tenures in Lagos State House of Assembly, said “neither the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nor the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has a candidate strong enough to unseat Tinubu in 2027.”
