Reno Omokri, Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Mexico, has warned that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar could risk losing political support in his home state if he chooses Peter Obi as his running mate in the 2027 presidential election.
Omokri made the remarks Monday in a post on X while reacting to comments by media entrepreneur Dele Momodu.
Momodu had said during an appearance on Sunday Politics on Channels Television that a joint Atiku–Obi ticket could defeat President Bola Tinubu in the next election.
While expressing respect for Atiku, Omokri said selecting Obi as a running mate could alienate voters in northern Nigeria, where he said religion and past experiences often influence political decisions.
“With all due respect, if Waziri Atiku Abubakar makes the mistake of running with Peter Obi in 2027, he may lose even Adamawa State because of the political liability that Peter Obi has become in the North,” Omokri wrote.
He said suggestions that an Atiku–Obi ticket would defeat Tinubu reflect what he described as a misunderstanding of political realities in the North.
Omokri added that some residents of Adamawa still harbor resentment over Obi’s reaction to the 2021 killing of Ahmed Gulak in Owerri.
Gulak, who was from Adamawa, was shot dead by gunmen in 2021.
Omokri also cited Obi’s response to the May 2022 killing of Harira Jubril and her children in Anambra State, an incident authorities linked to suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network.
According to Omokri, Obi’s alleged failure to strongly condemn the incident could affect political perceptions in northern Nigeria.
He also criticized Momodu for promoting the possibility of an Atiku–Obi alliance, saying political leaders should be mindful of regional sensitivities in a diverse country like Nigeria.
“Arewa has a long and deep memory. They do not easily forget insults, slights and offences,” Omokri said.
He added that symbolic political gestures, such as visits to mosques or community donations, may not erase past grievances among some northern voters.
Omokri said Nigeria’s diverse religious, ethnic and cultural composition requires leaders who are sensitive to those differences.
