Senator Victor Umeh has criticised former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff over his remarks that Northerners would not vote for former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi in the 2027 presidential election, accusing him of deliberately whipping up ethnic and regional sentiments.
Reacting to Sheriff’s comments, Umeh said the former governor’s statements were capable of creating unnecessary division among Nigerians at a time when the country needs unity and issue-based politics.
The senator argued that Nigeria has moved beyond the era of tribal and sectional politics, stressing that every qualified Nigerian has the constitutional right to contest for the presidency and seek support from voters across the country.
Umeh described Obi as a leader committed to national unity, good governance and inclusive development, insisting that attempts to portray him as unpopular in the North were politically motivated and aimed at undermining his growing support ahead of the 2027 general election.
He also rejected allegations that Obi’s administration in Anambra State discriminated against Northerners, maintaining that such claims were false and intended to stir public resentment against the former Labour Party presidential candidate.
The lawmaker urged politicians to focus on presenting solutions to Nigeria’s economic and security challenges rather than promoting narratives capable of deepening ethnic and regional divisions.
His reaction follows Sheriff’s recent assertion that Northern voters would not support Obi in the next presidential election, a claim that has continued to generate widespread political debate as preparations for the 2027 polls gather momentum.
