APC Chieftain Alwan Hassan Says North Will Reject Peter Obi in 2027 Over Alleged Involvement in Alcohol Trade
Alwan Hassan, a prominent political figure from northern Nigeria and a senior member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has firmly stated that the northern region will not support Peter Obi’s presidential ambitions in the upcoming 2027 general elections. According to Hassan, Obi’s alleged association with the importation and promotion of alcoholic beverages is fundamentally at odds with the cultural and religious values held by the predominantly Muslim population of the North.
Hassan made these comments during a guest appearance on Channels Television’s political programme Politics Today on Tuesday. During the interview, he challenged the notion that Peter Obi could be a viable contender against the incumbent president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the next election cycle.
“Who else do you think can defeat Asiwaju [Tinubu] in 2027?” Hassan asked rhetorically. “Peter Obi? The same Peter Obi who appeared on your programme asking for the North’s support while in the same breath celebrating the success of a brewery in Anambra State? He is known to be one of the largest importers of alcohol in the country. And you think we, in the North, will support a candidate who promotes alcohol? That is not going to happen.”
Hassan argued that Peter Obi’s business activities, particularly those involving the alcohol industry, are misaligned with the values of Northern Nigeria, where Islamic teachings, which prohibit alcohol consumption, significantly shape social and political decisions. According to him, it would be unrealistic to expect the region to endorse a candidate whose ventures seem to contradict those values.
Obi, the former governor of Anambra State and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has already declared his intention to run for office again in 2027, this time with a promise to serve only a single term if elected. However, since making this announcement, he has continued to face criticism from several APC loyalists, including Hassan, who question both his policies and his political alignment.
In addition to dismissing Obi’s chances, Hassan also took aim at the recently formed opposition alliance that emerged under the umbrella of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). He described the coalition as a fragile and disjointed collection of politicians driven more by personal ambition than any shared national vision or ideology.
“The so-called ADC coalition is simply a gathering of aggrieved politicians. It’s a group of angry individuals with no real strategy beyond their own individual aspirations,” Hassan said. “Each of them wants to become president. That’s not unity; that’s chaos. Asiwaju [Tinubu] will remain president.”
The ADC-led coalition, which has positioned itself as a credible alternative to the APC, features several high-profile politicians, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and Peter Obi himself. Though their alliance has generated buzz in political circles, Hassan believes their efforts are bound to fail.
According to him, President Tinubu’s leadership will only grow stronger between now and 2027, and the groundwork is already being laid for a successful re-election campaign. He expressed strong confidence in Tinubu’s ability to secure a second term in office.
“With the reality on the ground, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be re-elected, in shaa Allah,” Hassan said, invoking an Arabic phrase that translates to “God willing.”
Hassan’s remarks reflect broader political sentiments within the APC, where many party members have begun to rally behind Tinubu’s bid for a second term, despite mounting economic challenges and political opposition. At the same time, the comments also signal the beginning of what is expected to be a heated and divisive build-up to the 2027 elections, with religion, regional identity, and economic policy likely to feature prominently in the national discourse.
