The former Kaduna Central senator, in the Fourth Republic, Senator Shehu Sani, during an interview with The Punch correspondent, spoke on the aftermath of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s death, the political mood in the Northern region, and the permutations ahead of the 2027 general election.
When he talking about the chances of the Coalition winning the presidential election against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 elections, Shehu Sani explained that the current political reality shows Peter Obi as the key figure with organic grassroots support within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
However, he argued that Obi would not be able to defeat Atiku Abubakar in a presidential primary because primaries are decided by delegates—not the general public—and Obi lacks the necessary political reach and influence among them.
He added that if Obi fails to secure the party’s presidential ticket, the enthusiasm and energy of his core supporters may not match what was seen in the 2023 election. According to Sani, this scenario would give President Tinubu a clear political advantage heading into the next election.
He said, “These are the political equations on the ground: the man with the organic following in the ADC is Peter Obi, but he cannot defeat Atiku in a primary election.
“Those who vote in primary elections are not common people; they are delegates, and Obi doesn’t have the reach or strength to win primaries against Atiku. If Obi doesn’t emerge as the presidential candidate, his fanatical followers will not be as impressed as they were in 2023. That is one advantage for Tinubu.”
