2027: Obidients and The Illusion of Dominance
Each time I read about Obidients issuing threats of Peter Obi or nothing, I wonder whether they truly believe their principal enjoys widespread political popularity, even within what they describe as their stronghold.
During the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi was clearly underrated, as he went on to poll an impressive 6.1 million votes nationwide. However, since that election, his political standing appears to have become overrated, as subsequent electoral outings have produced a series of disappointing outcomes.
In the Anambra State House of Assembly election, candidates of his party performed poorly, winning only 7 seats out of 30. This was an early indication that the momentum from the presidential election had faded.
Later in November of the same year, his party’s candidate in the Imo State governorship election, Athan Achonu, polled only 64,081 votes, representing about 9 percent of the total votes cast, despite an intense campaign effort. The outcomes in Kogi and Bayelsa States were even more underwhelming.
In the Edo State governorship election of 2024, Olumide Akpata, widely presented as his political protégé, managed to secure just 22,763 votes, representing about 4 percent, despite Peter Obi’s heavy personal involvement in the campaign.
This trend continued during the August 16, 2025 by election in Anambra State. In the Anambra South senatorial contest, Obi's candidate, Mr Donald Amangbo, who contested on the platform of the ADC, polled a paltry 2,889 votes. He finished far behind the APGA candidate, who scored 90,408 votes, and the APC candidate, who secured 19,847 votes. Similarly, his candidate for the Onitsha North Constituency 1 by-election in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Justina Azuka, who ran as ADC flagbearer, could only get 1,909 votes, while the APGA candidate, Barrister Ifeoma Azikiwe polled a whopping 7,774 votes.
During the 2025 Anambra State governorship election, Peter Obi took the contest personally and campaigned vigorously for the Labour Party candidate. At the end of the election, his own polling unit was won by the APC candidate, Nicholas Unachukwu. His ward in Agulu, Ward 12, and his local government area, Anaocha, were both won by the APGA candidate and incumbent governor. Overall, the Labour Party candidate finished a distant fourth, polling only 10,576 votes, representing about 1.8 percent, behind APGA with 422,664 votes, APC with 99,445 votes, and YPP with 37,753 votes.
Considering this consistent trajectory of limited electoral acceptance, political misjudgment, lack of strategic depth, and a prolonged losing streak, combined with the well documented record of underperformance during his time in government in Anambra State, one must ask what real advantage his supporters believe they hold over any serious contender in the 2027 elections. What is the driver behind the Obidient illusion?
It will be interesting to observe their reaction after their party’s primary election, where any objective observer can already identify the two candidates, neither of these is Peter Obi, most likely to emerge victorious.
'Tonye Barcanista
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