The 2027 presidential contest took a sharper turn in Akwa Ibom on Thursday as President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima used an APC rally in Uyo to question the leadership records, political consistency and experience of opposition figures Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.
Addressing supporters at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Tinubu challenged Obi’s record as former governor of Anambra State, while Shettima questioned Atiku’s political legacy and his ability to build lasting political structures.
At the centre of Tinubu’s criticism was the erosion problem in Anambra, which he cited as an example of what he described as Obi’s failure to confront difficult development challenges during his time as governor.
The President compared the situation with his administration in Lagos State, arguing that leadership required the courage to address difficult problems rather than avoid them.
“He ran away from erosion in Anambra State. He could not confront erosion. I, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, confronted the Atlantic Ocean,” he said.
Beyond the issue of governance, Tinubu also questioned Obi’s movement from the Peoples Democratic Party to the Labour Party and subsequently to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, where he is seeking the presidency in 2027.