Ali Modu Sheriff Inciting North Against Peter Obi – Senator Umeh

The Senator representing Anambra Central, Victor Umeh, has accused former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, of attempting to incite Northern voters against the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Umeh was reacting to Sheriff’s comments on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where the former governor said Northerners would not vote for Obi because he was “divisive.”

“I am not worried about Peter Obi at all because I know that Northerners will never vote for Peter Obi,” Sheriff said.

Sheriff also alleged that Obi chased Northerners out of Anambra State while serving as governor.

Responding on the same programme on Tuesday, Umeh said Sheriff was trying to whip up sentiment against Obi.

“Anybody who gets up to say the North will not vote for Peter Obi, they are inciting their people against Peter Obi,” Umeh said.

He described Obi as a peaceful politician committed to national renewal.

“Peter Obi is one of the finest souls Nigeria has had. Somebody who is non-violent, somebody who preaches peace,” he added.

The lawmaker also defended Obi’s call on President Bola Tinubu to resign if he could not protect Nigerians.

According to Umeh, Obi had the democratic right to criticise the President’s handling of insecurity.

“He has a right to say the president has not met the expectations of the Nigerian people,” Umeh said.

He added that Tinubu had not done enough to address insecurity, hardship and the high cost of petrol.