2027: Oshiomhole Says Peter Obi’s 2023 Votes Were Fueled by Buhari-Era Hardship, Not Political Strength

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has dismissed claims that Labour Party’s Peter Obi poses a significant political threat to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general election, insisting that Obi’s strong performance in the 2023 presidential race was driven by public frustration rather than political dominance.

Speaking on TVC News’ Beyond The Headlines on Monday, the senator representing Edo North said the circumstances surrounding the 2023 election created an unusual political environment that worked in Obi’s favour.

Responding to questions about whether the APC was underestimating the former Anambra State governor, Oshiomhole argued that Obi benefited from widespread dissatisfaction caused by the economic challenges Nigerians experienced during the closing months of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

“No, not at all, not at all. Obi was produced by an unusual situation when a ruling party decided to destroy itself, making anybody running on its platform almost unelectable. It was that confusion that produced those votes,” Oshiomhole said.

The former Edo State governor blamed the cash crunch triggered by the naira redesign policy, alongside the nationwide fuel scarcity that preceded the 2023 election, for the public anger that translated into votes for the Labour Party candidate. According to him, millions of Nigerians were unable to access their savings despite having money in their bank accounts.

“People had money in the bank but couldn’t access it. They queued all night at ATM machines just to withdraw ₦10,000, and after a week, even the ATMs were dry,” he said.

Oshiomhole also highlighted the hardship many Nigerians faced at the time, including paying high fees to Point of Sale (POS) operators just to access cash. He argued that voters were already frustrated after enduring long queues for both cash and fuel before being expected to vote for the same government.

Recalling conversations with residents in his constituency, the former Nigeria Labour Congress president said many blamed the government for the economic difficulties caused by the cash shortage. He maintained that the policies responsible for the hardship were not part of the APC’s political agenda but acknowledged that they contributed significantly to the mood of the electorate during the 2023 election.