Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has confirmed that he will contest the 2027 presidential election, firmly ruling out any possibility of accepting a vice-presidential slot as political realignments gather pace ahead of the polls.
Obi made the declaration on Sunday night during an interactive session on X Spaces, where he addressed supporters and clarified his political ambition amid ongoing coalition talks.
“I am not travelling round the world to learn governance to be vice president,” Obi said.
“I know how to turn Nigeria around. I built my business from scratch and have more experience than any candidate, including the sitting President.”
He added that he was confident of being on the ballot in 2027, calling for the continued support and prayers of his followers.
Obi was the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, where he emerged as a strong third force, galvanising young voters and dominating urban centres. Although he and his party challenged the outcome of the election, the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal and the Supreme Court upheld the victory of President Bola Tinubu.
Before his presidential run, Obi served two terms as governor of Anambra State between 2006 and 2014, after being impeached, reinstated and re-elected. He was also the vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 election and has remained active in national political discourse.
Loyalists defect to ADC
Obi’s confirmation comes as his core loyalists have begun defecting to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), ahead of his expected official move to the party before the end of the year.
Among those who have joined the ADC is Henry Oseloka Obaze, a former PDP governorship candidate in Anambra State. Announcing his defection on Monday, Obaze said his decision was driven by principle.
“Eight months ago, I disengaged from partisan politics on grounds of principle. Today, I am a proud card-carrying member of ADC. We must rethink and reunite Nigeria. Much work lies ahead,” he said.
Sources say Obi is set to formally defect to the ADC on December 31, a move expected to end months of speculation over his political future following internal crises in the Labour Party.
The defection is expected to involve serving senators, lawmakers elected on the LP platform and PDP chieftains in the South-East. Those reportedly involved include Senators Victor Umeh, Tony Nwoye and Enyinnaya Abaribe, as well as PDP stalwart Ben Obi and members of the Obidient Movement across the region.
Obi’s spokesman, Val Obienyem, confirmed the planned defection, while Senator Victor Umeh said the event would take place in Enugu, with supporters expected from across the South-East.
Atiku dismisses reports
Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed reports claiming he had stepped down from the 2027 presidential race in favour of Obi.
Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, described the reports as false and misleading, writing on X: “Fake news: Not on the menu!”
ADC reacts
The national leadership of the ADC has said it is determined not to repeat the governance failures that followed the 2015 transition which brought the All Progressives Congress to power.
Speaking in Abuja, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said Nigerians have high expectations of the ADC and that the party is focused on building a credible alternative ahead of 2027.
As political movements intensify, Obi’s confirmation of his presidential ambition and the migration of his allies to the ADC appear set to significantly reshape Nigeria’s opposition politics ahead of the next general election.
Leave a Reply