The group, Movement for the Actualization of South-East Presidency (MASEP) led by the founder – Hon. Prince Humphrey Onyima, in a press release in Abuja on Wednesday accused the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai of gang up against the actualization of South East Presidency ahead of 2027 general elections in Nigeria as Coalition explores fresh options in favour of former Governor of Rivers State Rotimi Amaechi for 2027 amid Atiku-Obi deadlock.
“We, as members of the Movement for the Actualization of South East Presidency (MASEP), have watched on in dismay as many have bandied words and expressed varied opinions about Peter Obi’s Presidential aspiration for 2027 and trying to excite the polity by displaying their knowledge of what Obi should do, would do or should not do, come 2027.
It appears that the northern coalition led by Atiku Abubakar and Nasir El-Rufai are only ready to work with the South-East with Peter Obi as Vice President or nothing else.
“We want to categorically state here and now, without recourse to what anyone thinks or has thought, that the rank and file of the MASEP, will be left with no option than to back Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 if the Northern Coalition led by Atiku and El-Rufai failed to back Peter Obi for President 2027.
Our main reason is to get the South to see out her tenure and let the North take the lead in 2031. Thus, a Peter Obi or Bola Tinubu’s presidency in 2027 would guarantee that of the North come 2031.
For many years, we were led down dark paths by a misguided few and it resulted in utter chaos at every level. Today, everything is being done to reverse that disgraceful, obnoxious phase in our democracy.
To be honest, this cannot happen overnight. Thus, we want to call on the country to get behind Peter Obi for president and get him into office come 2027.
We want to call on Nigerians to be more objective in accessing Peter Obi’s chances of winning and judge it based on its performances in 2023 and how much it has braved the odds to impart positively on the electorates. We must not, as much as the tide of the day makes that almost impossible, judge the Peter Obi based on religion, ethnicity, region and all other sources of sentiments.We will only end up colouring an honest situation in false light.
It appears the coalition only wants to take advantage of Peter Obi’s popularity. For the Opposition Coalition to reclaim the presidency in 2027, they must explore every available means to convince Obi to stand as the consensus presidential candidate, but the coalition is only interested in taking advantage of his popularity.
Segun Sowunmi, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, recently warned the Labour Party presidential flag-bearer in 2023, Peter Obi, that the planned coalition is only interested in taking advantage of his popularity for the 2027 general elections.
Sowunmi made this declaration as he questioned reported plans to convince Obi to join a coalition of political parties spearheaded by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State Governor Nasiru El-Rufai, and other top opposition figures.
Several reports have emerged that Atiku has proposed Obi as his running mate in the coalition, promising to support the former Anambra Governor after a one-year term.
Movement for the Actualization of South East Presidency (MASEP) has questioned the coalition planners’ approach, labeling the movement a selfish adventure designed to favour a set of politicians against the popular yearnings of every average Nigerian clamoring for President of South East extraction.
It is up to Peter Obi to decide whether he wants the coalition to take advantage of him.
“The fundamentals by which you build a movement to rescue a nation can’t be predominantly too selfish. All the talks they’re making about coalition, they are just trying to take advantage of Peter Obi and it’s his business if he allows them to take advantage of him.
MASEP has expressed admiration for Obi’s conduct since he lost the 2023 election, noting that he’s seen making his presence felt in several parts of the country.
The group condemned the notion that Obi stands no chance of winning the 2027 election, insisting that such a conception only exists because the former Governor is neither a Yoruba man nor a northerner.
After Obi lost the election in 2023, many political analysts have watched what he has done. We never mind that people sometimes criticise him, he’s going to places. He’s been building boots on ground. He’s been doing things that somebody who really wants to run for President would do”.
If Peter Obi were a Hausa man or a Fulani man, would anybody be doubting the fact that he’s going to be the presidential candidate and he would likely win? If Peter Obi were a Yoruba man, would anybody be doubting that he’s a presidential candidate and he can likely win?
“If somebody can garner over 6 million votes all by himself with a ragtag army of supporters and the Nigerian people, you want to do a Nigerian movement and we’re supposed to be discussing what?”
Obi left the PDP in 2022 to pick the Labour Party’s presidential ticket after complaining of massive bribery of delegates and vote buying in the party’s presidential primary.
Our candid advice to the Atiku, El-Rufai led coalition is to explore every possible means of convincing Obi to lead its fold.
The Northern Coalition leaders should note that Obi’s exit from the PDP and the rebellion of some high-profile stakeholders led by former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and the South eastern PDP members who felt cheated based on the balance of play that the South-East was excluded, followed Peter Obi, which led to the party’s defeat in 2023, and only a proper reconciliation can position the opposition camp for success in 2027.
‘’Any deep-thinking, fair-minded Nigerian man who is in the political party called the PDP and currently in the coalition led by the Northern leaders ought to know that the greatest, necessary next step is to have the conversation about: ‘How do you bring Peter Obi into the fold’ now that the energy driving him is organic,’’ group added.
“Without mincing words, Peter Obi presidential campaign strategy has given Nigerians more hope and more reason to believe in our future as a nation, than we have ever had at any time in our history.”
As for the Igbos, the MASEP makes bold to state that they are as Nigerian as any of those who have governed the nation in the past 26 years and, as such, should be given the opportunity to take the nation to even greater heights.
“We, therefore, state that no region has the exclusive right to govern our dear nation; it behoves on us all, as Nigerians, to present ourselves as people who can govern this nation and lead her to make a difference in the comity of nations.”
“As far as the people of South East are concerned, all we need to do is to mobilise for a Tinubu continuum in 2027 if the Northern Coalition failed to adopt Peter Obi as their Presidential Candidate and, thereafter, shop to make a go for it to the North in 2031, without any further negotiation and without hesitation.”
“We hereby issue a rallying cry to every south-easterner, man or woman to pitch in for Peter Obi in 2027, as we prepare our house to present ourselves for election in the 2027 general elections.”
But the emerging signals from Nigeria’s evolving opposition coalition, championed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, are suggesting adversely in the contrary that former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi is being considered as a potential consensus presidential flagbearer for 2027.
This development reportedly stems from concerns over Obi’s firm stance on running again with his 2023 running mate, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed.
Amaechi, who recently turned 60, subtly hinted at his presidential aspirations during a birthday lecture, where he disclosed having informed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of his refusal to support his 2023 candidacy due to doubts about Tinubu’s unifying capabilities—a stance he believes has been justified by events of the past two years.
A source within the coalition’s steering committee revealed that Amaechi’s birthday lecture, themed “Weaponising Hunger,” was kept exclusive due to its sensitive political undertones.
The source indicated ongoing efforts to persuade Atiku to withdraw from the 2027 race, while Obi remains insistent on running with Baba-Ahmed.
“With time running out and both Atiku and Obi showing no signs of backing down, some of us believe we need a third option,” the source explained, adding that Amaechi, who placed second in the APC presidential primaries, is seen as a viable alternative with broad appeal.
It was also hinted that the former President Muhammadu Buhari camp within the APC prefers Amaechi over both Atiku and Obi and that Amaechi’s potential presidency might be limited to a single term, aligning with reported pledges by Atiku and Obi.
Meanwhile, Dr. Umar Ardo, co-convener of the League of Northern Democrats (LND), confirmed discussions about forming a new political party as a neutral platform for the coalition, dismissing suggestions that it’s designed to favour Atiku’s ambition.
Ardo, a 2023 Adamawa State governorship candidate, cautioned against merging with existing parties like the SDP or ADC due to structural challenges and potential manipulation.
He emphasised that a new platform would ensure control and prevent “systemic sabotage.” While acknowledging Atiku’s preference for existing parties, Ardo clarified that his support for a new platform doesn’t equate to endorsing Atiku’s presidential bid.
Political analyst Dr. Katch Ononuju stressed that Obi’s right to contest in 2027 is non-negotiable for the coalition’s cohesion.
Should the coalition succeed in registering a new party, tentatively named the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), observers will be watching to see if Atiku and Obi pursue separate bids under existing parties while Amaechi potentially emerges as ADA’s flagbearer.
It appears that the northern coalition is only ready to work with the South-East with Peter Obi as Vice President or nothing else.
Therefore, with the above development, the Movement for the Actualization of South East Presidency (MASEP) stands with Peter Obi for President 2027 in the interest of Northern Presidency 2031, fellow citizens, this is where we stand, nevertheless, let the consultations and negotiations continue, but in whichever dichotomy let it be in favor of South East Presidency 2027, it is our turn.
God bless Nigeria.
Bless the people of South Eastern Nigeria.
