Umeh Says Soludo Cannot Match Peter Obi’s Political Appeal

Victor Umeh, senator for the Anambra Central district, has said Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo lacks the political appeal to rival Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, either within the state or nationally.

Speaking on Tuesday on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Umeh addressed the political outlook before Nigeria’s 2027 general election and Soludo’s decision to support President Bola Tinubu rather than Obi.

1. Umeh said Obi’s standing among voters would remain stronger than Soludo’s, regardless of any steps taken by the Anambra governor. “Whatever Soludo does today, Peter Obi will still be more popular than him in Anambra State and across Nigeria,” he said.
2. He argued that Soludo’s backing for Tinubu would not alter the voting intentions of Anambra residents, whom he expects to support Obi in the 2027 presidential contest.
3. The senator pointed to the 2023 election, when Obi won more than 90% of votes in Anambra, defeating both the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
4. Umeh said he expects a similar result across the South-East in 2027, describing Obi as a continuing “rockstar” in Anambra politics.