Ohanaeze Youth Council Urges Atiku to Run as Peter Obi’s Deputy Under ADC, Calls It the Only Viable Path to Defeat Tinubu in 2027

The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), the youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, has stirred a major political debate after proposing that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar should contest the 2027 presidential election as the running mate to former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

According to the group, the only realistic path for the opposition to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the next general election is for Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi to merge their political strength rather than pursue separate ambitions. The organization insists that such a ticket—Obi as presidential candidate and Atiku as his deputy—would create a formidable national coalition capable of mobilizing diverse voter blocs across the country.

The President of the Ohanaeze Youth Council, Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, made this position known in a statement issued on Monday. He described Peter Obi as the most credible candidate to drive what he called a “national rebirth,” arguing that Obi possesses the vision, public trust, and reform-oriented leadership needed to chart a new direction for the country.

Igboayaka emphasized that since the national chairman of the African Democratic Congress hails from the North, fairness demands that the party’s presidential ticket should be reserved for the South. He argued that political equity and Nigeria’s informal zoning understanding require that the South be allowed to complete its turn by 2031. Against this backdrop, the OYC president urged Atiku Abubakar to act “selflessly” by stepping down from pursuing the presidency and instead accepting the vice-presidential slot.

He stated: “Considering that Southern Nigeria is slated to complete its tenure in 2031, it has become imperative that the African Democratic Congress restrict its 2027 presidential ticket to a Southern candidate. For the sake of Nigeria’s rescue, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar should willingly deputize former Labour Party candidate Mr. Peter Obi.”

The group went on to argue that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has “failed to live up to expectations,” insisting that Nigeria requires a new leadership team with a fresh mandate. According to Igboayaka, only a Peter Obi–Atiku Abubakar ticket can consolidate both Northern and Southern constituencies effectively enough to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

The OYC further warned that it would resist any political arrangement that undermines the interests of the Igbo people or perpetuates what it described as structural marginalization. Igboayaka maintained that a Southern presidential flag-bearer—particularly one of Igbo origin—would be a step toward political balance in the federation.

Their proposal has already generated intense nationwide reactions, especially because Atiku Abubakar previously served as Vice President from 1999 to 2007 and has since contested the presidency multiple times. The suggestion that he should once again accept a subordinate role—and in favour of his former political ally, Peter Obi—has sparked debate over political hierarchy, ambition, party strength, and constitutional interpretation.

Nevertheless, the Ohanaeze Youth Council insists that the moment requires sacrifice, unity, and strategic thinking. They argue that if opposition parties continue to run fragmented campaigns in 2027, President Tinubu will likely cruise to victory. A broad coalition, they believe, is the only viable formula.

As Nigeria edges closer to another election cycle, the OYC’s proposal adds yet another layer to a rapidly evolving political landscape—one marked by shifting alliances, emerging third-party influence, and renewed calls for national restructuring. Whether Atiku and Obi will consider such a partnership remains unknown, but the conversation has undeniably widened the debate on what shape the 2027 presidential race may take.