Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi’s 2027 presidential ambitions are shrouded in uncertainty as confusion trailing his platform for the election continues. Obi, who contested the nation’s top job in 2023 via the Labour Party, is a key member of the coalition of opposition figures plotting to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the next election.
In July 2025, opposition leaders, including Obi, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former Senate President David Mark, adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their platform for the 2027 polls. However, Obi’s hopes of securing the ADC ticket are becoming increasingly uncertain as party bigwigs seem to be favoring Atiku.
According to a source within the party, the ADC will conduct a primary election to determine its flagbearer, with no consensus candidate. Nonetheless, Obi’s camp has indicated that he is not ready to participate in a primary election against Atiku. The Obidient Movement, Obi’s followers, has vowed that their principal will not participate in any “dollarised delegate” inducement primary election in ADC, citing the party’s heavily monetized election process.
The National Coordinator of the movement, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, stated that Obi’s style of politics does not allow him to engage in such practices. Instead, the movement is advocating for a presidential candidate from the South, as the presidency is zoned to the region. Atiku, on the other hand, has vowed not to step aside for any aspirant under the ADC.
The ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, declined to comment on speculations that the party has resolved to conduct a primary election, stating that the party’s focus is currently on growing its membership. Meanwhile, some political analysts have argued that Obi’s possibility of contesting the election via the Labour Party is also low due to the party’s ongoing leadership crisis.
The factional national chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, and his camp are likely to frustrate Obi’s ambitions, according to Dr. Anabi Samuel, a political analyst. The Labour Party has also insisted that Obi will not have an automatic ticket to contest the 2027 election, with the party’s Factional National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, stating that the primary election will be democratic and open to all interested candidates.
As the 2027 presidential election approaches, Obi’s next steps remain uncertain. With the ADC and Labour Party options seemingly closed, Obi may need to explore alternative platforms or put his ambitions on hold. The outcome of the upcoming elections will likely have significant implications for Nigeria’s political landscape, and Obi’s decision will be closely watched by political analysts and observers.