Controversy Erupts As Policeman Allegedly Tells Peter Obi He Can Never Become President

A Nigerian police officer has sparked controversy after a video circulating online appeared to show him making derogatory remarks about Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi and questioning his chances of becoming President.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the officer allegedly argued that Obi could never become president because of his Igbo identity. He also made claims about what Abuja would become under an Obi administration and compared the opposition politician with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.

In the video, the officer allegedly stated that the 2027 presidential contest would primarily be between Tinubu and Atiku, while dismissing Obi’s chances. He further claimed that Abuja would become a hub for internet fraud, commonly referred to as Yahoo, if Obi were elected.

The remarks have generated reactions online, particularly over the alleged reference to Obi’s ethnic background as a reason why he could not become president. The officer’s identity and the circumstances surrounding the recording were not established in the material reviewed, and the claims made in the video could not be independently verified.

The incident comes amid increasing political activity ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with Obi, Tinubu, Atiku and other political figures positioning themselves ahead of the contest.

Meanwhile, former Senate President and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, has explained why he did not endorse Obi during the 2023 presidential election.

Speaking during an interview with Arise News, Anyim said Obi remained his friend and brother and that he respected him as a political figure. He explained, however, that they belonged to different political parties and political camps at the time.

“Peter is my friend and my brother, and I respect him. But I belong to a separate party from where he is, so I did not endorse him. Peter is my friend, but we are not in the same political family. We are in different political camps,” Anyim said.

Anyim also discussed the South-East’s political strategy, saying the region would need to build alliances with other parts of the country if it hopes to achieve its long-term ambition of producing a Nigerian president. He described such cooperation as a matter of political arithmetic.

The former Senate President further expressed the view that many political leaders in the South-East currently support the All Progressives Congress, while acknowledging that he was not the Independent National Electoral Commission and therefore could not determine how their followers would vote.

The separate developments have added to the ongoing political debate surrounding Obi and the wider contest ahead of the 2027 presidential election.