Abure-Led administration Labour Party National Vice Chairman (South-West), Abayomi Arabambi, has declared that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar remains the opposition figure with the strongest chance of defeating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, insisting that former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi lacks the nationwide political structure required to unseat the incumbent.
Speaking during Naija Unfiltered podcast interview on Symfoni, Arabambi argued that Atiku possesses the political reach and electoral network needed to mount a formidable challenge against Tinubu if the 2027 contest narrows to two major candidates.
“I won’t lie to you. Atiku is the most potential person that can defeat Tinubu,” Arabambi said, adding that while Peter Obi may command significant support in parts of the South, Atiku has a broader national appeal capable of attracting votes across several regions.
The Labour Party chieftain used the interview to launch a fresh attack on Obi, accusing the former Anambra State governor of contributing to the crisis that engulfed the Labour Party after the 2023 general elections.
Arabambi alleged that Obi sidelined the party’s leadership during the campaign and claimed that the failure to deploy polling agents to about 53,000 polling units weakened the party’s legal challenge to the 2023 presidential election results.
According to him, the absence of polling agents in those locations made it difficult for the party to defend its votes during post-election litigation.
He further alleged that campaign accounts were opened without the knowledge of the Labour Party leadership and claimed he had submitted petitions to relevant security agencies seeking investigations into the matter.
Arabambi also disclosed that he had issued a ₦50 billion pre-action notice to Obi over alleged defamatory remarks made against him and vowed to pursue legal action if no apology is offered.
During the interview, the Labour Party official raised questions about Obi’s educational and identity documents, alleging inconsistencies that, according to him, should be investigated by the appropriate authorities. He maintained that the courts and relevant agencies should determine the authenticity of the documents.
However, the podcast host repeatedly reminded viewers that the allegations remain unproven and that Peter Obi is presumed innocent unless a court decides otherwise. The interviewer also extended a right of reply to Obi and his representatives to respond to the claims.
Arabambi dismissed suggestions that his criticism of Obi was politically motivated or sponsored by the Presidency, insisting he had never worked for President Bola Tinubu or acted on behalf of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Responding to questions on why he continues to focus on Obi despite the country’s economic and security challenges, Arabambi said his actions were aimed at holding public figures accountable and addressing issues he believes affected the Labour Party during the 2023 elections.
He also commented on the controversy surrounding the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), describing the affair as embarrassing for the government and calling for a comprehensive investigation into how the organisation allegedly secured official recognition and budgetary allocations.
Arabambi criticised the National Assembly for approving funding linked to the controversial agency, arguing that lawmakers should have detected irregularities during the budget process.
On the judiciary, he faulted a Federal High Court judgment that sought the deregistration of several political parties, saying he had petitioned against the judge involved and describing the decision as inconsistent with established legal principles governing political parties.
As political activities ahead of the 2027 general election gather momentum, Arabambi maintained that Atiku Abubakar remains the opposition candidate best positioned to challenge President Tinubu, while insisting that Peter Obi should resolve the legal and political issues he raised before seeking another bid for the presidency.
Peter Obi has consistently denied wrongdoing in response to previous allegations regarding his political activities and campaign finances. None of the allegations made by Arabambi in the interview has been proven in court, and no competent court has found Obi guilty of any offence.
