Obasanjo Walks Away After Journalist Presses Him on 2027 Presidential Choice

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo became visibly irritated during an encounter with a journalist who repeatedly asked him which presidential candidate he would support in Nigeria’s 2027 election.

The incident, which occurred at a public event on September 30, 2026, was captured on video and subsequently circulated widely on social media. According to Legit.ng, the journalist asked Obasanjo to identify which among Peter Obi, President Bola Tinubu, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Omoyele Sowore he would support in the 2027 presidential contest.

Obasanjo initially declined to engage with the political question.

“We are not here for that.”

The journalist, however, continued the line of questioning, reportedly asking what advice Obasanjo would give to whoever eventually becomes Nigeria’s president.

The former president then reacted sharply, pushing the journalist's phone aside and telling him:

“You’re a foolish boy.”

He subsequently walked away from the interaction. Legit.ng reported that the footage generated substantial reactions online, with some social-media users focusing on Obasanjo's response while others debated whether the journalist's persistence was appropriate for the occasion.

Why Obasanjo's 2027 Position Is Being Closely Watched

The exchange has attracted attention because Obasanjo remains an influential figure in Nigeria's political discussions, while the 2027 presidential race is already generating significant activity among political parties and opposition groups.

Obasanjo endorsed Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election. More recently, he and Obi appeared together at the 2026 Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi, where both criticised aspects of Nigeria's democratic institutions. Punch reported that Obasanjo called for an African approach to democracy that better reflects the continent's history and circumstances.

His political views concerning the 2027 contest have therefore become a recurring subject of public discussion.

However, the September 30 encounter did not produce a fresh public endorsement from Obasanjo. Instead, the former president declined to answer the journalist's question and left the interaction.

The Peter Obi Connection

Obasanjo's relationship with Peter Obi is particularly relevant to speculation surrounding his 2027 position because of his 2023 endorsement.

In January 2023, Obasanjo publicly urged Nigerians to support Obi ahead of that year's presidential election. His subsequent public engagements with Obi have continued to attract political attention.

In August 2026, Punch reported that the two men appeared at the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi. Their participation in the event has subsequently been cited in discussions about Obasanjo's political outlook ahead of 2027.

That history, however, does not establish how Obasanjo intends to vote in 2027.

What the Viral Exchange Actually Shows

The video provides a relatively straightforward sequence:

A journalist asks Obasanjo about the 2027 presidential election.

The reporter mentions several prominent political figures, including Obi, Tinubu, Atiku and Sowore.

Obasanjo says the gathering is not for political questions.

The journalist continues with a question about advice for Nigeria's next president.

Obasanjo reacts angrily, calls the journalist a “foolish boy,” pushes the phone away and walks off.

The episode therefore should be distinguished from claims that Obasanjo has formally announced a new 2027 preference.

A Broader Political Context

The 2027 political environment has already generated significant speculation about possible alliances, candidates and opposition arrangements.

Obasanjo's name frequently enters those discussions because of his previous interventions in presidential elections and his continuing public commentary on governance and democracy.

At the same time, his daughter, Iyabo Obasanjo, has separately returned to active politics. In March 2026, she announced her membership of the All Progressives Congress and her intention to seek the party's governorship nomination in Ogun State. She also said her political decision was her own and was not influenced by her father.

That development is separate from Obasanjo's own position on the 2027 presidential election.

The Question That Remains Unanswered

The most significant part of the exchange is perhaps what Obasanjo did not say.

Despite being directly asked to identify his preferred presidential candidate, he did not name Tinubu, Obi, Atiku, Sowore or another candidate during the encounter.

His previous political actions and public statements may provide context for understanding his political history, but they should not be treated as proof of a decision he has not publicly announced.

For now, the viral footage has reignited public interest in one question that remains unanswered: Who will Olusegun Obasanjo support when Nigerians go to the polls in 2027?