Hussain: Atiku Had Structure and Got 6.9m Votes, Obi Got 6.1m Without Structure

Ibrahim Hussain, a close associate of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, has offered fresh insight into Obi’s political influence and development-oriented philanthropy.

Speaking in a recent interview with Daily Trust, Hussain emphasized Obi’s ongoing support for nursing schools across Nigeria. He described these efforts as part of Obi’s broader commitment to long-term human capital development, not just political positioning.

Shifting focus to coalition discussions ahead of the 2027 elections, Hussain drew a direct comparison between Obi and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, pointing out the stark differences in their support systems during the 2023 elections.

“Atiku got 6.9 million votes from an existing party with governors and House of Reps members. Peter Obi got 6.1 million votes without structure, with no governor. He won 11 states plus Abuja, which is 12 states, won 12 states outright winning, and President Tinubu won 12 states,” Hussain stated.

He argued that Obi’s electoral performance, achieved without the benefit of entrenched political machinery, should carry significant weight in any future coalition talks.

Challenging Atiku’s political strength outside the PDP, Hussain raised questions about his personal influence, especially given the internal issues facing the party. “What we are trying to see is that if you are coming to coalition and you want to know who becomes what in that coalition, it is for you now to make the analysis. If we remove the PDP, where is the structure of Atiku Abubakar? We all know that the PDP is having a problem today,” he said.

Hussain’s comments reflect a growing debate within the opposition as they prepare for 2027, with past electoral performances likely to shape decisions about future leadership roles.

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