Arise Television presenter Rufai Oseni has criticised the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, over what he described as a lack of visibility, policy inconsistencies and reported internal disagreements ahead of the 2027 general election.

 

Oseni also raised concerns over alleged disagreements between Obi’s political camp and the NDC, questioning whether the party was committed to addressing the expectations and aspirations of its supporters.

 

The broadcaster made the remarks on Friday during The Morning Show while reacting to comments by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Chief Don Ulasi on the preparedness of opposition parties for the 2027 presidential election.

 

Ulasi had described Obi as the only serious opposition figure capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu in the forthcoming election, citing the government’s perceived shortcomings, including inflation and rising food prices.

 

However, the PDP chieftain expressed doubts about the opposition’s ability to translate public dissatisfaction into electoral support, arguing that he had yet to see sufficient grassroots mobilisation and town hall meetings by the NDC leadership.

 

Oseni Questions Obi’s Relationship With NDC

Responding to Ulasi’s assessment, Oseni questioned the state of Obi’s political organisation, particularly reports of disagreements between his camp and the NDC.

 

He argued that the reported tensions could undermine confidence among supporters who expect the party to provide a credible platform for challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

 

Oseni said, “And that goes back to the problem that even this Peter Obi you are talking about. Are you really sure because he’s also having infighting with his NDC political party?”

 

The broadcaster further alleged that disagreements existed between the Obidient Movement and the NDC, raising questions about whether the party’s leadership shared the aspirations of Obi’s supporters.

 

He added that some supporters had expressed doubts about the intentions of the party’s leadership and its commitment to their political expectations.

 

Rufai Oseni Faults Obi Over Petrol Subsidy Position

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Oseni also criticised Obi’s position on petrol subsidy, arguing that the former Anambra State governor had not maintained a consistent stance on the issue.

 

According to the broadcaster, Obi’s position on whether to retain or remove the subsidy had appeared to change, creating uncertainty about his policy direction ahead of the 2027 election.

 

Questioning the whereabouts of Obi’s manifesto and his participation in the subsidy debate, Oseni said the presidential hopeful had initially indicated support for retaining the subsidy before subsequently advocating its removal.

 

He said Obi had argued that corruption within the subsidy system needed to be addressed, but questioned the consistency of his position.

 

Oseni stated, “Today, where is his manifesto? He was nowhere, he was found nowhere in the subsidy debate. He said something, then he flip-flop on the subsidy.”

 

He continued, “At first, he said, ‘Oh, I will keep subsidy.’ Now he’s saying he will remove subsidy again. But he said he will correct the corruption in there.”

 

Broadcaster Says Obi Has Lost Some 2023 Supporters

 

The Arise Television anchor further argued that Obi had lost some of the supporters who backed him during the 2023 presidential election.

 

He attributed the alleged loss of support partly to what he described as inconsistencies in Obi’s political positions, suggesting that the development could affect his appeal as opposition figures prepare for the next election.

 

“So a lot of people have found him flip-flopping, and he has also lost a lot of people from the last election cycle that supported him,” Oseni added.

 

Obi, who secured significant support during the 2023 presidential election, is positioning himself for another presidential contest in 2027.

 

As political activities gather momentum ahead of the next general election, the cohesion of opposition parties, the clarity of their policy proposals and their ability to mobilise supporters at the grassroots level are expected to remain important issues in the contest against Tinubu and the APC.

 

The allegations of internal disagreements and claims about Obi’s changing policy positions were raised by Oseni during the programme.