Nigerian Ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has warned that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar risks losing political support in his home state of Adamawa if he chooses former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi as his running mate in the 2027 presidential election.
Omokri made the remark in a post shared via his X handle on Monday while reacting to comments by media entrepreneur Dele Momodu, who had suggested that a joint Atiku–Obi ticket could defeat President Bola Tinubu.
Tribune Online reports that Momodu, during an appearance on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, expressed confidence that such an alliance would be formidable at the polls.
Responding, Omokri said that while he held Atiku in high esteem, selecting Obi as a running mate could alienate voters in Northern Nigeria, where he noted that religion and past political experiences often influence electoral choices.
“With all due respect, if Waziri Atiku Abubakar makes the mistake of running with Peter Obi in 2027, he may lose even Adamawa because of the political liability that Peter Obi has become in the North.
“Waziri Atiku Abubakar is formidable, and I would never criticise him based on the immense respect I have for him. But to suggest that an Atiku–Obi ticket would defeat President Bola Tinubu shows a misunderstanding of Northern political realities,” Omokri said.
According to the former presidential aide, political dynamics in the region are frequently shaped by religious considerations, which he argued could affect voter perceptions of any proposed alliance.
He also claimed that some residents of Adamawa still harbour resentment over Obi’s reaction to the 2021 killing of Ahmed Gulak in Owerri.
Tribune Online reports that Gulak, who hailed from Adamawa State, was shot dead by gunmen in 2021.
Omokri further alleged that tensions were heightened by Obi’s response to the May 2022 killing of a pregnant woman, Harira Jubril, and her children in Anambra State.
“Now add that to the repeat of the same behaviour after the murder of Harira and her underage children by suspected IPOB/ESN elements in Peter Obi’s home state and his refusal to condemn the incident, and anybody tying themselves to Peter Obi is playing with fire,” he said.
He also criticised Momodu for promoting the idea of an Atiku–Obi alliance, stressing the need for political actors to be sensitive to regional realities in a diverse country like Nigeria.
“Arewa has a long and deep memory. They do not easily forget insults, slights and offences,” he said.
Omokri added that symbolic gestures such as visits to mosques or donations to communities might not be sufficient to address perceived grievances among some Northern voters.
“Nigeria, as one of the most multicultural, multi-religious, multi-ethnic and multiracial countries on Earth, needs leaders who are sensitive to these differences,” he added.