Hon. Kasimu Maigari, a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) National Legislators’ Forum, has asserted that former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has significantly delayed the South East’s push for the presidency.
During an interview on ARISE News on Monday night, May 4, 2026, Maigari stated that Obi’s political trajectory has done more harm than good for the regional aspiration, claiming, “My worry is not if Peter Obi will win the presidency; my worry is that Peter Obi has pushed Igbo’s 20 years backwards from getting the Presidency.”
Maigari argued that Obi’s political movement has failed to advance the Igbo presidency project, describing it instead as a major setback.
He further criticized the motivations of those surrounding Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, suggesting they are driven by personal ambition rather than ideological commitment. “Peter Obi will not win the 2027 election; it is very obvious,” Maigari said.
“The only people who follow Obi and Kwankwaso are those who think they will rise on their backs to get elected and then defect and leave them.”
The ADC chieftain alleged that a vast majority of Obi’s supporters are primarily interested in using his popularity to secure elective positions such as state assembly seats or governorship tickets.
“99 per cent of those running around Peter Obi have the ambition of running either state assembly, House of Rep or governor and the only easiest way for them to win an election is when Peter Obi or Rabiu Kwankwaso is on the ballot,” he added.
Despite these criticisms, Maigari maintained that the ADC remains a united and strategically positioned force for the 2027 elections, noting that Obi’s influence could inadvertently help the ADC by acting as an “agent” in areas where the ruling party expects to dominate.