A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alwan Hassan, has declared that the northern region will not support the presidential bid of Labour Party’s Peter Obi in the 2027 general elections, citing Obi’s business links to alcohol production as a key reason.
Speaking during an interview on Politics Today, a programme aired on Channels Television on Tuesday, Hassan criticised Obi’s efforts to woo northern voters while simultaneously promoting ventures that, according to him, contradict the cultural and religious values of the region.
“Who else do you think will defeat Asiwaju in 2027? Peter Obi? The same man who, on your programme, was celebrating a brewery in Anambra and is known to be the biggest importer of alcohol?” Hassan queried. “And you want the North to vote for him? We will not vote for a president who imports alcohol into the North.”
Hassan, a vocal supporter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, argued that the former Anambra governor’s business interests, especially in the alcoholic beverage sector, would not sit well with the largely conservative Muslim population in the North.
Obi, who recently reiterated his intention to run for president in 2027 with a pledge to serve only one term if elected, has continued to attract scrutiny from APC loyalists.
The APC stalwart also dismissed the emerging opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which features prominent political figures such as Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, and others.
Describing the alliance as “a coalition of angry people,” Hassan said the group lacks a unified vision and is driven by personal ambitions rather than a common political agenda.
“Each of them wants to be president. There is no strategy beyond individual interests. Asiwaju will be re-elected, in sha Allah,” he added.
The remarks come amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with various blocs seeking to position themselves as credible alternatives to the ruling APC. However, party loyalists like Hassan remain confident in President Tinubu’s ability to secure a second term.
