Nigerian comedian and media personality DeeOne has said former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi cannot win the 2027 election by relying on sympathy votes. He advised Obi to change his campaign strategy and invest more resources if he is serious about defeating the ruling party.
DeeOne argued that emotions and goodwill may have helped Obi gain traction in the 2023 election but will not be enough in 2027. He warned that underestimating President Bola Tinubu and his supporters, often referred to as the City Boy Movement, would be a major mistake.
According to him, presidential campaigns require strong grassroots structures, logistics and funding. He criticised the “we no dey give shishi” posture linked to Obi’s movement, saying campaign workers need basic support such as food, transport and welfare on election day.
DeeOne claimed that some Labour Party agents struggled during the last polls because they lacked funds and even water at polling units. He suggested that if Obi does not want to spend heavily from his own pocket, he should openly mobilise financial contributions from his supporters to strengthen the campaign.
He also cited the example of former United States President Donald Trump, saying reports of heavy personal and supporter funding in US campaigns show the scale of resources needed for national elections. DeeOne added that telling Obi hard truths does not mean hostility, but a desire to see him perform better if he runs again in 2027.
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