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Former spokesman to ex-military president Ibrahim Babangida, Kassim Afegbua, has criticised former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, describing him as a dominant figure within his political movement and questioning the strength of the structures surrounding him ahead of the 2027 general election.
Speaking during an interview, Afegbua assessed the prospects of key opposition figures expected to play major roles in the next presidential race. While acknowledging Obi’s popularity among supporters, he argued that electoral success in Nigeria requires more than public enthusiasm and social media engagement.
According to Afegbua, the former Anambra State governor exercised enormous influence within his political platform, a situation he suggested could hinder the growth of strong party institutions.
Referring to Obi, Afegbua said, “He is the alpha and omega of his party before now.”
The political commentator noted that Obi only recently stepped away from a leadership role within his political movement, insisting that the former presidential candidate remained the central figure around whom major decisions revolved.
Afegbua argued that winning a presidential election in Nigeria requires a robust political structure extending across the country’s states, local governments and polling units. He maintained that while Obi enjoys significant support in some parts of the country, building a nationwide political network remains a critical challenge.
The former presidential aide also questioned whether opposition platforms currently possess the organizational capacity required to compete effectively against the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2027.
He pointed to the importance of grassroots mobilization, party administration and electoral logistics, arguing that successful campaigns depend on strong structures at the local level. According to him, political parties must have active operatives capable of engaging voters across thousands of polling units nationwide.
Afegbua further suggested that ongoing disputes within opposition circles could complicate efforts to build a united front ahead of the next election cycle. He expressed doubts about the ability of some emerging political coalitions to establish the nationwide presence necessary for a presidential victory.
The comments come as political activities ahead of the 2027 elections continue to intensify, with opposition leaders exploring alliances and strategies aimed at challenging President Bola Tinubu and the APC.
Afegbua’s remarks are likely to generate reactions among Obi’s supporters, many of whom view the former governor as one of the country’s most influential opposition figures. However, the former presidential spokesman insisted that political popularity alone is insufficient, stressing that party structure and grassroots organization remain decisive factors in determining electoral outcomes.
