Arise TV anchor Rufai Oseni has alleged that there may be political efforts aimed at preventing Peter Obi from contesting in the 2027 presidential election.
He made the claim while commenting on recent political developments involving opposition figures.
Oseni claims strategy to limit Obi
Speaking during a discussion, Oseni suggested that Obi remains one of the strongest opposition figures capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu.
He argued that attempts could be made to stop him from appearing on the ballot.
“The only person that can give President Tinubu a push is Mr Peter Obi. The first strategy is to ensure he doesn’t get on the ballot,” he said.
Links party switches to internal crises
Oseni also addressed criticisms surrounding Obi’s movement across political parties.
He said such decisions were influenced by internal disputes within opposition parties, drawing parallels with the crisis that affected the Peoples Democratic Party in 2022.
According to him, similar tensions contributed to Obi’s exit from the African Democratic Congress.
Claims over ADC structure
The media personality further alleged that the structure of the ADC had been influenced by the camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
He referenced disagreements over zoning arrangements, claiming there were differences during a meeting in Oyo State.
“From a source, there were plans to zone the ticket to the South, but Atiku’s camp insisted otherwise,” he said.
Debate over Obi’s exit
Oseni also disputed Obi’s stated reason for leaving the ADC, suggesting the move was driven by internal pressure rather than legal concerns.
He claimed the former governor had been “pushed into a corner” within the party.
The comments add to ongoing debates around opposition realignments and political strategies ahead of the 2027 general elections.
"The only person that can give President Tinubu a push is Mr. Peter Obi. The first strategy is to ensure he doesn’t get on the ballot. For those saying Obi keeps moving from one party to another, the same thing that happened in PDP in 2022 is exactly why he left ADC and joined… pic.twitter.com/h0OALkzqGs
— CHUKS 🍥 (@ChuksEricE) May 4, 2026