Northern Christians, Believed That They Would be in Trouble if Asiwaju Came in as President- Abejide

According to a report by Punch on Saturday, January 3, 2026, a member of the House of Representatives, Leke Abejide, has attributed the electoral performance of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in the 2023 general election to the influence of religious and ethnic sentiments rather than purely political strength.

Abejide made this assessment while speaking on a national television programme, where he reflected on the political climate that shaped voter behaviour during the election.

According to the lawmaker, Obi gained significant support, particularly among Northern Christians, due to widespread fears at the time that a Bola Tinubu presidency could negatively affect freedom of worship.

He argued that such concerns played a major role in mobilising votes, noting that perceptions of religious exclusion were a strong motivating factor for many voters.

“People, especially the Northern Christians, believed that they would be in trouble if Asiwaju came in as president. They believed they would not have room to exercise their faith, but it’s not like that today,” Abejide said.

Abejide, who represents Yagba Federal Constituency in Kogi State and is a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, spoke shortly after Obi’s recent defection to the ADC in Enugu State.

He cautioned opposition parties against assuming that the conditions of the 2023 election would automatically repeat themselves in future contests, stressing that the political environment has shifted since the current administration took office.

He maintained that developments under President Tinubu have helped dispel earlier fears, as the administration has demonstrated a more inclusive approach to governance.

In his view, this change weakens attempts by opposition figures to rely on religious or regional narratives to gain political advantage going forward.

The lawmaker also criticised the manner of Obi’s registration into the ADC, questioning why it was done outside his ward of origin.

He described the move as inconsistent with established political procedures and expressed concern over what he viewed as unconventional practices.

On discussions about a possible opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections, Abejide dismissed the idea that combining past vote totals could automatically defeat the ruling party.

He further pointed to internal leadership disputes within the ADC, noting that unresolved legal challenges could undermine the party’s electoral prospects.

Abejide affirmed that the ADC remains open to new members, provided that proper processes are followed.

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