A political science professor at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Jonah Onuoha, has expressed skepticism that Peter Obi’s recent defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will significantly shift the political dynamics ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Onuoha, speaking in Nsukka, stated that the surge of support that propelled Obi and the Labour Party to surprise victories in 2023, particularly in the South-East, is unlikely to be replicated.
He attributed this to a weakened “Obidient” movement, arguing that the momentum from the last election has faded and would be difficult to revive.
“The Obidient spirit that produced the 2023 momentum has largely died and will be difficult to resurrect before the general elections,” Onuoha said.
The academic suggested that this decline in grassroots energy partly influenced Obi’s decision to leave the Labour Party.
He projected that the 2027 presidential contest would primarily be a two-horse race between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the ADC, with victory likely going to “the party with the stronger candidate.”
Concluding his analysis, Prof. Onuoha called on political actors to prioritize national unity and avoid rhetoric that could overheat the polity.
Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.
Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.
He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.
Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).
He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.
He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.
Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.
