2027 Presidency: Dele Momodu Pushes Back as Fayose Urges ADC to Field Peter Obi

The battle for relevance and influence ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election has taken another dramatic turn, following sharp reactions within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over calls for the party to present Peter Obi as its presidential flagbearer. At the centre of the latest exchange are former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose and renowned journalist, publisher, and ADC chieftain, Dele Momodu, whose response has further exposed the growing tensions within the emerging opposition coalition.

The controversy began after Fayose publicly advised the ADC to field Peter Obi as its presidential candidate in 2027, warning that the party’s electoral prospects would be severely weakened if it failed to do so. Fayose’s comments came against the backdrop of Obi’s recent defection to the ADC alongside other prominent South-East political figures, a move widely interpreted as part of a broader strategy by opposition leaders to build a formidable alliance capable of unseating President Bola Tinubu.

Reacting to Fayose’s remarks, Dele Momodu took to his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, expressing surprise and thinly veiled sarcasm at the former governor’s intervention. Momodu described Fayose’s call as a case of undue interference, likening it to “an outsider weeping louder than the bereaved.” According to him, Fayose, who is not a member of the ADC, appeared overly invested in prescribing solutions to a party whose internal processes and decisions he does not control.

“As a matter of fact, I was really surprised to see my brother, former Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose, begging the ADC to field former Governor Peter Obi as its presidential candidate in 2027,” Momodu wrote. “Wonderful Lord! This is a classic case of an outsider weeping louder than the bereaved.” His remarks were widely interpreted as a subtle rebuke, not only of Fayose’s suggestion, but also of what some ADC insiders see as external attempts to influence the party’s direction.

The reaction has reignited an already intense debate about who should lead the opposition charge in 2027. Peter Obi, the former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate in 2023, commands a passionate support base known as the Obidient Movement. Many of his supporters argue that Obi remains the most viable candidate to galvanise youth voters, urban populations, and disillusioned Nigerians seeking an alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

On the other hand, critics within and outside the ADC caution against presenting Obi as a “consensus candidate” without a competitive primary process. Some party stakeholders, including those sympathetic to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, insist that experience, nationwide structure, and electoral reach—particularly in the North—should be key determinants in choosing a flagbearer. This underlying rivalry has fuelled speculation that the ADC could become a new arena for old political battles rather than a unified opposition platform.

Fayose’s intervention has also been questioned due to his own controversial political trajectory. Once a fierce critic of the APC, he has in recent times been accused by opponents of tacitly supporting President Tinubu. This has led some commentators to view his endorsement of Obi as either tactical mischief or an attempt to further weaken Atiku Abubakar, with whom Fayose has had a long-standing rivalry within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Meanwhile, the ADC leadership has yet to formally declare its position on zoning, consensus candidacy, or the presidential ticket. Party insiders insist that decisions will be made through established democratic mechanisms rather than public pressure or social media advocacy. Nonetheless, the exchange between Momodu and Fayose underscores the growing stakes and sensitivities as 2027 approaches.

As Nigeria edges closer to another decisive election cycle, the ADC’s ability to manage internal ambitions, external influences, and the expectations of diverse support bases will likely determine whether it emerges as a credible alternative or becomes mired in the same factional struggles that have plagued other opposition parties. For now, the debate over Peter Obi’s role within the ADC has become a symbol of the broader contest for control, narrative, and direction in the race for the presidency.