If Peter Obi Can’t Contest, Support Tinubu To Prevent Power Returning To The North – Archbishop Onuagha Urges Southeast
August 6, 2025 | Lagos, Nigeria
A prominent voice within Nigeria’s Christian community, the Archbishop of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Okigwe, Most Reverend Biereonwu Livinus Onuagha, has called on the Igbo people to consider backing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office—if Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, is unable to contest in the upcoming 2027 general elections.
The Archbishop made this position known in a public statement issued over the weekend, where he offered candid political counsel to the Southeast region amid growing uncertainty over Peter Obi’s candidacy under the emerging third-force coalition, the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Archbishop Onuagha began by reaffirming his admiration for Peter Obi, describing the former Anambra State governor as the most qualified and credible candidate for Nigeria’s presidency. According to him, Obi represents integrity, competence, and visionary leadership in a political climate riddled with corruption and inefficiency.
“Peter Obi remains my candidate,” the Archbishop stated. “He is intelligent, focused, and has proven to be a man of integrity and accountability. He is the most sensible option for Nigeria.”
However, he expressed concern that political powerbrokers within the ADC coalition may work against Obi’s emergence as the party’s presidential flagbearer. If this happens, the Archbishop warned, the Southeast must not make the mistake of remaining politically neutral or backing a Northern candidate.
Should Peter Obi be excluded from the race, Archbishop Onuagha advised that the Southeast consider supporting incumbent President Bola Tinubu in his bid for re-election. He emphasized that such a move, though not ideal, would serve as a more strategic alternative than allowing power to return to the North, which held the presidency for eight consecutive years under President Muhammadu Buhari.
“If Obi is not contesting, let Tinubu go ahead,” he said. “The North should not come close to power now. We must be politically wise, not sentimental. Power must rotate, and equity must be maintained.”
The Archbishop clarified that his position was not rooted in partisan loyalty, as he is not a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but rather in the broader interest of justice, federal balance, and long-term strategic planning.
Archbishop Onuagha also criticized recent developments within the ADC, particularly the growing influence of former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. He alleged that El-Rufai’s involvement could compromise the coalition’s credibility among Southern and Christian voters.
“It is disturbing to see El-Rufai take center stage in the ADC’s affairs,” the Archbishop stated. “This is someone who has been openly antagonistic towards Christians and Southerners. If this coalition ends up presenting a Northern candidate, the Igbo nation should withdraw support. We cannot be used again.”
According to him, sidelining Obi would amount to a betrayal of the hopes of millions of Nigerians, especially the youth and the Obedient movement that rallied behind him in 2023.
Onuagha urged Southeast political leaders, traditional rulers, and civil society organizations to unite around a common political strategy that safeguards the region’s long-term interest. He argued that while moral ideals are important, the realities of Nigerian politics require negotiation, coalition-building, and sometimes, compromise.
“We must not repeat past mistakes of political isolation,” he warned. “If Obi cannot contest, the Southeast should align with Tinubu’s second term, rather than gamble with another Northern presidency.”
The Archbishop’s remarks reflect sentiments recently echoed by Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, who also advised the Southeast to support President Tinubu in 2027. Umahi stated that it is not yet the Southeast’s “turn” to produce the president and that continued partnership with the Tinubu administration would pave the way for future political concessions.
Archbishop Onuagha’s intervention is likely to stir debate within the Southeast, particularly among members of the Labour Party and pro-Obi supporters. His comments bring to the fore the perennial issue of political marginalization of the Igbo and the need for pragmatic strategies to enhance national relevance.
If Peter Obi is indeed denied the presidential ticket under the ADC or decides not to run, the question remains whether the Southeast will heed calls for tactical alignment with Tinubu—or push forward with another candidate from the region, risking a split vote and possible irrelevance in the final contest.
As Nigeria inches closer to the 2027 elections, Archbishop Onuagha’s remarks may prove influential in shaping political discourse within the Southeast, especially among church leaders, youth groups, and political stakeholders seeking both justice and leverage in the national power equation
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