Doherty: Peter Obi’s Support Remains Strong Ahead of Lagos Elections

Funso Doherty, the Lagos governorship candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), stated that Peter Obi still has a strong support base and can achieve the same electoral success in Lagos as he did in 2023. Doherty made these comments during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

This discussion followed an incident where the party’s town hall meeting in Lagos was attacked. Despite this, Doherty dismissed concerns that Obi’s recent switch from the Labour Party to the NDC would weaken his popularity. He emphasized that Obi’s appeal comes from his political beliefs rather than the party he represents.

Doherty warned against underestimating Obi’s influence, saying it could be a serious mistake. He noted that the enthusiasm from Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign is still very much alive among supporters, as shown by their resistance during the attack on the town hall meeting.

During the attack, suspected political thugs disrupted the meeting at Classic Event Place in Oregun, Ikeja, armed with weapons and causing damage. However, NDC supporters fought back, showing their determination to stand their ground. Doherty praised their bravery, calling them heroes for defending their rights.

In the 2023 presidential election, Obi ran on the Labour Party’s platform and finished third overall but won in Lagos, defeating the ruling party’s candidate. Now, as he seeks the presidency again with the NDC for the 2027 elections, Doherty believes the party can challenge the long-standing dominance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos.