Abakaliki, Ebonyi State — Former Anambra State Governor and prominent opposition figure Peter Obi received a large and energetic reception from youths, women and other residents during a visit to Ebonyi State on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
Video footage circulating widely on social media shows Obi arriving in a convoy, stepping near a pickup truck and interacting with a dense crowd that waved, cheered, raised phones to record the moment and pressed forward to greet him.
Security personnel were visible as supporters, including many young people and women, lined the area and expressed strong excitement. One widely shared clip, posted by the account Nigeria Stories, captured the lively scene and described it as a “historical welcome.”
The visit comes against the backdrop of recent public exchanges between Obi and Minister of Works David Umahi, a former governor of Ebonyi State.
Umahi has criticised comparisons that place Obi above him, questioned Obi’s superiority in background, intellect and service records, and stated that it is “not yet the turn” of the South-East to produce Nigeria’s president, while urging support for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections. Umahi has also encouraged Ebonyi voters not to back Obi.
Supporters have framed Obi’s appearance in Umahi’s home state as a direct response to those comments. Crowds in the videos appeared undeterred, turning out in significant numbers to welcome the visitor despite the political friction.
On Sunday, October 4, the Ebonyi State chapter of the Labour Party issued a statement distancing itself from what it called divisive rhetoric. Signed by the party’s 2027 governorship candidate and other aspirants, the statement insisted that “Peter Obi remains our brother, not our enemy.”
It stressed the longstanding cultural, commercial and fraternal ties between the people of Ebonyi and Anambra states and urged political actors not to allow partisan differences to undermine those relationships. The party also called on Umahi to focus on delivering critical infrastructure rather than rhetoric that could deepen divisions in the South-East.
The visit and the warm reception it generated have amplified ongoing discussions about political alignments in the South-East ahead of the 2027 general elections. Obi continues to command a strong following among younger Nigerians and the “Obidient” movement, while Umahi remains a key figure in the ruling All Progressives Congress and a vocal defender of the current federal administration’s record in the region.
No official statement from Obi specifically addressing the “dare” characterisation had been widely reported by late Sunday. The viral videos, however, clearly document a substantial and enthusiastic public turnout for the former governor in Ebonyi State.
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