Daniel Bwala, media and policy adviser to President Bola Tinubu, has advised Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to reject any offer to run as a vice presidential candidate in 2027. Bwala believes such a move would damage Obi’s political standing and alienate the strong support he enjoys, particularly from the youth-driven Obidient movement. He noted that Obi’s appeal is tied to his ambition to lead the country, not to play second fiddle.

Speaking during a Channels Television interview, Bwala said, “Peter Obi would be making the biggest mistake of his life by accepting to be anyone’s running mate. His supporters had only one deal with him – to run for president. If he abandons that, most of them will walk away.” He added that even Obi himself might not be comfortable playing a supporting role, given how far he has come on his own political journey.

Bwala also said defeating President Tinubu in 2027 would be nearly impossible, arguing that the President now has the advantage of incumbency and the political structure to rally support across party lines. He said more governors and lawmakers from other parties are aligning with Tinubu because, despite criticisms, people recognize that he’s working to unite the country and deliver results.

“To be honest, there’s no politician alive in Nigeria today with the kind of reach and political strength President Tinubu has,” Bwala said. “He may not be perfect, but he has both the heart and the head for leadership.”