A fresh wave of political controversy has erupted surrounding the involvement of former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in the emerging opposition coalition spearheaded by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), amid claims that he was misled into joining the alliance.
The coalition, which is gaining traction ahead of the 2027 general elections, has drawn attention as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is widely tipped to become its presidential flagbearer. Atiku recently reiterated his ambition to contest in 2027, vowing to take a hard stance on corruption if elected.
“I swear to God, if elected, whoever steals or engages in any corruption-related activities, we will declare war against them and they must be punished,” he said at a public event.
Meanwhile, Peter Obi clarified his stance, saying he is not part of any joint ticket discussions and intends to run for a single term if elected president.
“I have not joined in any form of discussion on joint tickets, including with Atiku. If there is any form of agreement that will restrict me to four years in office, I will comply and leave on the 28th of May 2031—not the 29th,” Obi affirmed.
The controversy intensified following remarks from Obi’s former aide, Katchy Ononuju, who alleged that Obi was tricked into the coalition with the promise of emerging as the consensus candidate. Speaking to DAILY POST, Ononuju said Obi was deceived into believing the coalition would be zoned to the South after its launch.
“The coalition was just a trick. They told him to go and register, promising to zone the presidency to the South. I warned him, but he trusted them,” Ononuju claimed, expressing concerns that the move undermines the youth-driven Obidient Movement he helped initiate.
He added that Obi risks political oblivion if he agrees to serve as a vice-presidential candidate, stressing that such roles have historically silenced key figures. “Vice Presidents are always muted or degraded. If Obi becomes VP to anyone, he will lose the youth and his political relevance,” he warned.
Ononuju also accused Atiku of building the ADC coalition to advance his own presidential ambition and refusing to honor power rotation principles by declining to zone the presidency to the South.
In response, Obidient Movement National Coordinator, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, dismissed the claims as baseless attempts to sow discord.
“They are trying to create distractions and disharmony. Peter Obi remains focused. If he has any official position, it will come from him, me, or his aides,” Tanko stated.
Tanko reaffirmed that Obi remains a loyal member of the Labour Party and that his engagement with the coalition is solely a strategic interest in building alliances ahead of the 2027 elections.
“The coalition is for 2027, and Peter Obi remains in the Labour Party to protect the interest of its candidates and followers,” Tanko clarified.
As the opposition landscape continues to evolve, the drama surrounding Obi’s role underscores deeper tensions within the coalition and growing anxieties over power zoning and political strategy ahead of the 2027 presidential race.
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