Fresh political exchanges have emerged ahead of the 2027 elections. Ali Modu Sheriff accused Peter Obi of supporting Nigeria’s division and challenged him to declare his position on the country’s unity.
ABUJA, NIGERIA — Ali Modu Sheriff, a former governor of Borno State, has accused Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, of promoting Nigeria’s division through his alleged support for the Biafra movement. Sheriff made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television while reacting to Obi’s recent criticism of President Bola Tinubu over the country’s security and economic challenges.
According to Sheriff, Obi has never publicly condemned the Biafra movement or the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. He argued that the former Anambra State governor should clearly state whether he supports Nigeria remaining one united country. Sheriff said political leaders seeking national office should openly declare their commitment to the country’s unity.
During the interview, Sheriff also responded to Obi’s recent call for President Bola Tinubu to resign, following concerns raised by the former presidential candidate about insecurity and the state of the economy. Sheriff maintained that Obi’s comments should be viewed alongside what he described as the former governor’s position on national unity. He challenged Obi to publicly distance himself from any movement advocating Nigeria’s separation.
Peter Obi, who served as governor of Anambra State from 2006 to 2014, contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Labour Party. Since the election, he has continued to comment on national issues, including the economy, governance and security. Obi has repeatedly said he seeks a better Nigeria through democratic means, while discussions linking him to separatist movements have remained a subject of political disagreement among rival politicians.
The development means political debates ahead of the 2027 general election are likely to focus not only on governance and economic policies but also on issues relating to national unity and security. As of the time of this report, Peter Obi had not publicly responded to Sheriff’s latest remarks made during the Channels Television interview.
