Obi benefited from 2023 public anger, not political strength — Oshiomhole

Edo North Senator Adams Oshiomhole has declared that Peter Obi’s strong performance in the 2023 presidential election was driven by public anger over the failures of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, not enduring political strength.

Oshiomhole said the cash scarcity and fuel crisis that preceded the election created widespread hardship and frustration among Nigerians, resulting in protest votes for the Labour Party candidate.

Speaking during an interview on TVC News’ Beyond the Headline with Nifemi Oguntoye, the former Edo State governor blamed policies introduced during Buhari’s final months in office for worsening the hardship faced by Nigerians.

He argued that Obi was the major beneficiary of the anger generated by those policies during the presidential election.

According to Oshiomhole, the conditions that produced Obi’s 2023 electoral surge no longer exist, making it unlikely that he will repeat the performance in 2027.

The former APC national chairman also questioned Obi’s economic credentials, describing him as a trader focused on immediate gains rather than long-term national development.

He maintained that President Bola Tinubu’s infrastructure projects demonstrated a greater commitment to Nigeria’s economic future.

Turning to the 2027 elections, Oshiomhole said his priority was to persuade his constituents to re-elect him and support Tinubu alongside other candidates of the All Progressives Congress.

“This time around, I want to concentrate on convincing the people of my constituency to vote for me, to vote for President Tinubu and to vote for the House of Representatives candidate and House of Assembly candidate because we belong to the same party,” he said.

Oshiomhole also reaffirmed his loyalty to the APC, recalling that he refused to abandon his convictions even when he suffered personal consequences under the previous administration.

“Everyone who knows me knows that I’m fiercely loyal. When my loyalty was tested by the previous administration, I stood my ground. They took their job, I stood my ground and kept my honour,” he said.