Opposition leader Peter Obi has declared he will run for president in 2027, rejecting claims that he might serve as running mate to Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party.
“I’m going to contest for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and I believe I am qualified for it,” Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential flagbearer, said during the Sunday Politics programme.
When asked if he was considering being Atiku’s running mate in 2027, Obi responded, “This is not in play; nobody has ever discussed that. People assume so many things. Nobody has ever discussed with me whether I am going to be A or B or C.”
The former governor of Anambra State emphasized that he remains a strong member of the Labour Party, though he is actively involved in the African Democratic Congress coalition formed by opposition groups to defeat President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, who is seeking a second term in 2027.
“I am part of the coalition which will be able to produce a president with the capacity and compassion to save this country,” he said.
‘Just Four Years’
Obi explained that he would need no more than four years to provide effective leadership for Nigerians.
“I don’t need a day more than four years. I will show the direction of good governance,” Obi insisted, making it clear that he will run for president in 2027 rather than as a deputy to any other politician.
“In two years, there has been maximum damage. Two years can change it in a good direction. People want to get up and see a president that cares, that shows compassion,” he added.
On July 2, 2025, an inter-party coalition including Atiku Abubakar, Obi, ex-Senate President David Mark, former minister Rauf Aregbesola, former minister Rotimi Amaechi, ex-Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai and others, adopted the ADC as the joint opposition platform to challenge Tinubu, whose government has faced accusations of economic mismanagement, historic inflation, and unprecedented hardship.
The coalition is relying on the voting numbers Obi and Atiku achieved in 2023. Atiku of the PDP and Obi of the Labour Party came second and third respectively, with a combined tally exceeding 12 million votes, over four million more than Tinubu’s total as announced by INEC.
Reacting to criticism that the ADC coalition consists of spent politicians who once held power, Obi argued:
“In fact, even some who have been in that government, their experience is critical.
“I can tell you one of the major companies in the world hired two people who have worked in failed companies because they can tell you why they failed.
“You need the experience of those who have failed and those who have succeeded to move on, and I need everyone. It is a critical experience because they know what can fail a system and they know what was wrong with the system,” he explained.
‘No Anti-Party Activity’
Obi further maintained that he is still a member of the Labour Party despite being active within the ADC coalition, stressing that his participation is not “anti-party”.
“No, there is no anti-party. Remember, we said for 2027. We are not in 2027; we are in 2025. It’s clear. We’ve adopted it for 2027. So, if I say I am going to be part of your dinner in the evening, that doesn’t mean I should abandon my breakfast and lunch.”
“The coalition just adopted a party for 2027. So, we are trying to work together for the sake of Nigeria.
“Today, I am a Labour Party member. I remain in the Labour Party. But we have all agreed to work as a coalition for the 2027 election, and for that, we’ve adopted ADC. Going on, other parties, other individuals will also come in.
“We want better governance for this country. We want to see a more competent government with capacity and character.
“This coalition might have other parties as it happened in the past, and change the name of the party.
“I am a member of this (Labour Party) and I am going to work with this group,” he concluded.
Credit: Channels TV