2027: Five key political associates who abandoned Peter Obi

Five prominent political associates of Peter Obi, including Yunusa Tanko, Kenneth Okonkwo, Valentine Ozigbo, Isaac Balami and Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, have either changed political allegiances or reportedly disagreed with his political direction ahead of the 2027 election.

Five prominent figures associated with Peter Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign have taken different political paths or expressed disagreements with him ahead of the 2027 election.

According to The Nation, the developments have attracted renewed attention following Yunusa Tanko’s appointment as national coordinator of the Social Democratic Party’s presidential campaign council.

Tanko, formerly a leading figure in the Obidient Movement, resigned as Obi’s political adviser on October 30 before accepting a role supporting SDP presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo.

Other former associates include actor and politician Kenneth Okonkwo, who publicly criticised Obi’s political leadership, and Valentine Ozigbo, who left the Labour Party for the All Progressives Congress in February 2025.

Isaac Balami, a former deputy campaign manager, also aligned with the APC.

Obi’s former running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has reportedly disagreed with some political decisions, although he has not publicly announced a comparable defection.

The changes come as Obi, now the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, prepares for the 2027 election.