Peter Obi Condemns Ethnic Profiling, Divisive Narratives

Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi on Monday, June 8, 2026, strongly condemned ethnic profiling in Nigeria, urging citizens to resist what he described as deliberate attempts by politicians to fan ethnic tensions for political gain ahead of the 2027 elections.

Obi made the remarks in a statement widely shared on social media, saying that crime has no tribe and that the practice of associating criminal behaviour with particular ethnic groups was not only false but dangerous to national unity. He called on Nigerians to judge individuals by their character and their actions rather than their ethnic or religious background.

‘Crime has no tribe. Let us resist the temptation to paint an entire group with the brush of a few bad actors,’ Obi said, adding that the real enemies of Nigeria were poverty, corruption, and bad governance, not any particular ethnic group. His statement was widely praised by civil society groups but drew some criticism from commentators who said he did not specify the recent incidents that prompted the remark.

NDC Declares Party Supremacy

The New Democratic Congress also moved to strengthen its internal structures on Monday, declaring party supremacy and approving a code of conduct committee to enforce accountability within its ranks. NDC officials said the party was preparing for a more organised role in the 2027 electoral cycle and was committed to offering Nigerians a credible alternative to the two dominant parties.

Meanwhile, the proposed Obi-Kwankwaso alliance for 2027 continued to generate debate. Reports of exploratory discussions between allies of both politicians prompted sharp pushback from northern political stakeholders who said such a coalition would face serious structural resistance in the region. NNPP officials said no formal agreement had been reached and that the party’s leadership had not authorised any alliance negotiations.

However, political analysts noted that any effective opposition in 2027 would require more disciplined coalition-building than what was attempted in 2023. Furthermore, Obi’s consistent public engagement on governance and national unity issues helps keep him relevant in the national conversation even before the formal opening of the 2027 campaign season. Notably, former Senate President Bukola Saraki separately praised Nigerian teenager Zadok Yohanna’s historic Premier League move to Brighton, saying it was a demonstration of what Nigerian talent could achieve when given the right opportunities. Consequently, the contrast between Nigeria’s political dysfunction and the global success of its young athletes and entertainers continued to fuel public debate about governance and national potential.

Dele Momodu Tips Atiku as Tinubu’s Biggest 2027 Challenger

In addition, publisher and APC member Dele Momodu described former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as President Tinubu’s biggest challenger in 2027, saying Atiku’s political experience, national reach, and capacity for coalition-building made him the most formidable opposition figure despite the controversies surrounding his recent ADC primary victory. As a result, the 2027 presidential race is shaping up as a rematch between two of Nigeria’s most experienced political gladiators, even as newer names continue to enter the field.