The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election, Peter Obi, has suggested that the 2027 race could be his last attempt at the presidency, citing Nigeria’s zoning arrangement and his age as key factors.
Speaking during an interview with media personality Rufai Oseni, the former Anambra State governor said the likelihood of him contesting in 2031 is “very slim.”
Obi explained that if the presidency returns to the North in 2031 in line with the country’s informal zoning principle, he would be 78 years old by the time power rotates back to the South, making another presidential bid unlikely.
“For me, it depends on what happens,” Obi said. “I don’t want to say it because people might think I’m saying it because of some people.”
Recalling a conversation with a secondary school student, he added: “This morning, a secondary school boy asked me, ‘If you run this time, will you run again?’ I said no. He asked why, and I told him that if I don’t win now, the next turn, based on the zoning formula, should go to the North. By the time it comes back to the South, I will be 78 years old, and I don’t think I would be doing this at that age.”
However, Obi noted that his decision could change depending on the outcome of the 2027 election and the region that retains the presidency.
“If it’s still in the South after the next election, maybe. But the probability is very slim. I don’t know until after the outcome of the 2027 election,” he said.
Comments