The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, to take a definitive position on whether he intends to join the party-led coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party stressed that while Obi’s political stature is respected, he will not be pressured into joining, especially as key issues he raised—such as zoning and rotation of political offices—are not yet under consideration.
Obi had recently expressed concerns that the ADC-led coalition was beginning to “falter” over disagreements surrounding zoning, although he maintained confidence in the coalition’s top leaders, including former Senate President David Mark and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
In response, ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi said the coalition’s current focus is presenting itself as a credible alternative for Nigerians, not discussing zoning.
“We’re not talking about zoning or no zoning now. Nigerians are still waiting for us to tell them what we will do differently,” Abdullahi said. “If zoning is Obi’s condition for joining us, then he may have to wait until we reach that stage.”
He urged Obi to make a clear decision regarding his political alignment as the 2027 race approaches.
“I understand his concerns, but he needs to decide if he wants to be part of the coalition or not. What matters most is convincing Nigerians that we represent a credible alternative, regardless of where the candidate comes from,” he added.
According to Abdullahi, the coalition is stable and growing, despite Obi’s earlier description of it as unstable.
“It’s unfortunate he used that word. We are stable. We have opened offices in 27 to 28 states within five months without a single political officeholder. That’s a major achievement,” he said.
He noted that while Obi’s contributions are valuable, he should be more involved in strengthening party structures — particularly in Anambra State.
“We want him to be part of our journey and help build the party,” Abdullahi said, reaffirming the ADC’s commitment to forming a strong and credible political movement.
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