DeeOne to Peter Obi: Groundnut politics won’t deliver 2027 victory

2026-02-13 - 19:20

Nigerian comedian, Aderombi Adedayo, popularly known as DeeOne, has advised former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to overhaul his political strategy ahead of the 2027 general election, arguing that modest public gestures and what he described as “sympathy votes” would not be enough to secure victory. Speaking in a video shared on his Instagram page, DeeOne said Obi and his supporters must adopt a more structured and better-funded campaign model if they hope to compete effectively in the next electoral cycle. View this post on Instagram A post shared by DEEONE (STARBOY OF COMEDY) (@comediandeeone) “You cannot win a presidential election with sympathy votes; it will not work,” he said. “It may have given him some leverage in the last election, but in 2027 it will not work.” Referring to Obi’s widely publicised modest lifestyle and retail market visits, DeeOne remarked, “I am not saying you should not buy or price groundnuts, but those strategies will not work again.” He added that underestimating the political strength of President Bola Tinubu and what supporters describe as the ‘City Boy Movement’ would be a mistake. Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the platform of the Labour Party, came third in the official results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The outcome was subsequently challenged at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal and later at the Supreme Court, both of which upheld the declared result. DeeOne further urged Obi’s supporters to strengthen grassroots mobilisation and campaign logistics. He cited the example of former United States President Donald Trump, noting reports that Trump invested significant personal resources into campaign efforts, as an illustration of the scale of organisation required in national elections. “Presidential election is not a joke; you have to show workings,” he said, while encouraging transparency in political fundraising and expenditure. As of the time of filing this report, Peter Obi has not publicly responded to the comedian’s remarks. Political observers note that while the 2027 election is still some time away, early positioning and public commentary are already shaping conversations within Nigeria’s major political blocs