2027 Election: Growing Rift in ADC Over Peter Obi’s Next Political Move

Tension is mounting within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) amid speculation that former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, may be preparing to abandon the coalition for another political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Reports over the weekend suggested that the former Anambra State governor could be considering leaving the ADC for the Action Alliance (AA), raising concerns about unity and direction within the emerging coalition.

Reacting to the rumours, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement and a close ally of Obi, told the Nigerian Tribune that he was not aware of any such decision. “At the moment, it isn’t on my desk. I know he still has a good working relationship with the coalition leadership. We’ll wait until after the Anambra governorship election to know the next step,” he said.

Dr. Tanko also emphasized that zoning would play a crucial role in determining the ADC’s future, insisting the next presidential ticket should go to the South. “The ADC must be all-inclusive. If we’re picking a presidential candidate, it must be from the South,” he declared.

However, insiders within the ADC disclosed growing unease over Obi’s hesitation to commit fully to the party. A senior aide to the former governor, who requested anonymity, revealed that Obi’s camp was becoming increasingly frustrated with what they described as internal manipulation aimed at cornering the presidential ticket.

“Is it a crime to look for another platform? Everyone knows how things are being arranged in the ADC. It’s clear who the preferred candidate is. So, if Obi decides to walk away from what appears to be a trap, no one should blame him,” the aide said, though he stopped short of confirming if Obi had settled for the Action Alliance.

A member of the ADC’s interim National Working Committee (NWC), who also spoke anonymously, confirmed that Obi’s alleged plan to exit the party did not come as a surprise. He accused the former LP candidate of avoiding an open contest, even after the party leadership offered him major concessions, including the right to nominate a National Organizing Secretary.

“What kind of democrat runs from a primary election?” the party official asked. “We’ve done everything to make him comfortable. If he feels he can’t get what he wants, he’s free to leave. We can’t keep building a party around one man.”

The NWC member also revealed that Obi had proposed that the ADC’s presidential candidate be chosen through an opinion poll—a suggestion that many within the leadership dismissed as unrealistic. “We want to build a strong opposition party with discipline and structure. We’re not desperate for him,” he said.

Political analyst and founding national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Chekwas Okorie, also weighed in on the matter. In a phone interview, he suggested that Obi never had a firm footing within the ADC. “He was never a card-carrying member. He only attended their meetings occasionally,” Okorie explained.

He added that Obi had already announced, via his X handle, that he would unveil his new political platform in November. “Peter Obi knows he can’t win the ADC ticket through a delegate system. The ADC will go through internal primaries, and he doesn’t have the numbers,” Okorie said.

The veteran politician predicted that the 2027 presidential election would feature a three-horse race. “Atiku Abubakar will likely pick the ADC ticket, Bola Ahmed Tinubu will remain the APC candidate, and Peter Obi will run under another platform,” he forecast.

As political alignments continue to shift, the uncertainty surrounding Obi’s next move has deepened divisions within the ADC, threatening the stability of what was once touted as a promising coalition for Nigeria’s opposition politics.