The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has declared that the support of state governors will not influence the outcome of the 2027 general election.

During a recent interview in Washington, D.C., Obi emphasised that election success is ultimately determined by voters, not party endorsements.

He mentioned that in the 2023 presidential election, he ran without the support of current governors and yet won in some states.

The former governor of Anambra State made the remarks in response to debates regarding political alignments ahead of the 2027 elections, as well as governors’ power over the electoral process.

Obi stated that public support remains the most crucial ingredient in any democratic contest, adding that the emphasis should be on engaging individuals and addressing issues that concern Nigerians.

“For the 2027 election, it doesn’t matter if all 36 governors are with President Tinubu. I didn’t have a single governor in the last election, yet I won 12 states, even after they stole two states from me.

“By making Abuja a state, we now have 37 states because that’s what the judgment of the Supreme Court showed.

“Senator Rabi’u Kwankwaso won one state, and that was Kano. The APC, PDP and Labour Party won 12 states each. And it, I lost two by the process of rigging, I would have had 12 states,” he said.

His comments come as political activity ramps up ahead of the next general election, with parties and candidates preparing for the race. President Bola Tinubu is set to seek re-election, as opposition leaders continue to gain traction across the country.

Remember that Obi finished third in the 2023 presidential election, receiving nearly 6.1 million votes and becoming as one of the top opposition contenders in the race.