Pat Utomi Reacts as Abuja Traders Chant ‘Na Peter Obi We Want’ During APC Campaign

Nigerian professor of political economy Pat Utomi has reacted to a viral video showing traders at Banex Plaza in Abuja chanting support for Peter Obi as All Progressives Congress (APC) members attempted to campaign in the area.

The footage, which has circulated widely on social media, captured traders and marketers chanting, “Na Peter Obi we want,” as APC promoters reportedly put up campaign banners for President Bola Tinubu at the market in Wuse 2.

According to reports, the incident drew attention online, with Nigerians expressing different views about the traders’ reaction and what it could mean for the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Some social media users interpreted the chanting as a sign of dissatisfaction with the APC, while others argued that the traders were predominantly supporters of Obi because of their ethnic background. However, the video alone does not establish the political views of all traders at the market.

Reacting to the footage, Utomi praised the enthusiasm displayed by Obi’s supporters, popularly known as the Obidients. He argued that the movement’s supporters could not easily be intimidated.

“One of the beautiful things about Peter Obi is that his supporters are not the kind of people you can intimidate,” Utomi wrote on his official X account.

The political economist also described the energy captured in the video as extraordinary and expressed optimism about Nigeria’s political future ahead of the next general election.

“The energy in this video is extraordinary. Nigeria will definitely be OK in 2027,” he added.

The incident has fuelled online discussion about Obi’s support base and the APC’s reception during political outreach. However, the broader electoral significance of the chanting remains uncertain, as the video does not independently establish how widely the sentiment is shared among Abuja traders or voters.