Laide Olabanji renews support for Peter Obi, urging Nigerians to reconsider their 2027 choices amid fuel and electricity challenges

Nollywood actor Laide Olabanji has renewed his support for Peter Obi ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election, urging Nigerians to reconsider their political choices amid concerns over fuel prices, electricity supply and the wider cost of living.

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Olabanji made the appeal in a post shared on Instagram, where he questioned why Nigerians facing persistent economic difficulties would support a return of the current administration.

The actor specifically referenced electricity and the rising cost of petrol as he argued that voters should think carefully about the direction of the country before the next election.

“You’ve not had light since and you can’t even afford to buy fuel and yet you want the current government to come back,” Olabanji wrote.

He then called on Nigerians to give Obi an opportunity to lead, writing, “Let’s give Peter Obi a chance to make the country great again.”

The latest intervention is not Olabanji’s first public endorsement of Obi. In September, the actor urged Nigerians to look beyond ethnic considerations when deciding who should lead the country, arguing that the length of time a leader spends in office does not necessarily determine the impact that leader can make.

In that earlier message, Olabanji compared the administrations of former military rulers Yakubu Gowon and Murtala Muhammed before asking Nigerians to consider Obi on the basis of the future they want for the country rather than ethnic loyalty.

His renewed endorsement comes as political activity intensifies ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Obi, who previously contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party, joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress in May 2026 and was subsequently unveiled as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

The economic conditions referenced by Olabanji have also become an increasingly prominent political issue.

Reuters reported in September that petrol prices had climbed to about N1,400 per litre in Lagos and Abuja, with some northern locations recording prices of up to N1,500 per litre.

The report linked the increase partly to higher international oil prices and noted the renewed cost-of-living pressure ahead of the election.

Electricity remains another major concern for households and businesses. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission reported that an average of 4,758 megawatts was available for dispatch from grid-connected power plants in August, with an average of 4,102MW utilised.

The regulator has also introduced measures aimed at improving distribution network reliability and infrastructure investment.

Olabanji’s intervention therefore places his personal political endorsement within broader public debates over living costs, electricity supply and the performance of government ahead of 2027.

The actor has increasingly used his social media platforms to express political views.

His September comments drew attention after he encouraged Nigerians to place competence and effective leadership above ethnic considerations when choosing their next president.

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While Olabanji’s latest remarks represent his personal political position, they add to a growing conversation among Nigerian entertainers and other public figures as political parties and candidates begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 contest.