Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has raised concerns about growing internal tensions within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition, attributing the strain to unresolved issues surrounding zoning and the rotation of major political offices ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obi, speaking on Wednesday during an interview on the YouTube programme Advocacy for Good Governance, said the coalition is operating on unstable political understandings that have not been formally documented, an oversight he warned could pose serious risks as the coalition moves closer to the next electoral cycle.
The LP presidential flagbearer in the 2023 election reaffirmed his membership of the party and commitment to the coalition but stressed that clarity is needed on the fundamentals.
“I’m a member of the Labour Party, and I subscribe to the ADC coalition for the 2027 election. I believe in it. But as much as I believe in it, I need to know the fundamentals that we all agree to respect,” he said.
Obi explained that the coalition currently relies on informal, unwritten arrangements regarding power rotation and allocation of positions – an approach he argued is unsustainable in a sensitive political environment.
“Today, we have what we can say are unsigned agreements about the presidency, unsigned agreements about rotation of offices,” he said.
“If you say this person will come from here and another will come from there, all those things must be properly organised.”
He noted that without formal consensus, misunderstandings could easily arise, potentially weakening the coalition’s effectiveness and credibility.
The former Anambra governor called on all stakeholders to return to the negotiation table and clearly define the coalition’s direction.
“We all need to sit down and talk about where we’re driving the country to. There are fine lines we must respect, and things must be done properly,” he added.
Obi nonetheless expressed confidence in the coalition’s leadership structure. He praised former Senate President David Mark, acknowledging his political experience, and also commended former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, whom he described as “my leader.”
“I believe he has the political sagacity to lead the party. And then we have others like my own leader, Atiku, someone I have great respect for and who I believe wants the best for Nigeria.”
His remarks appear to reinforce his willingness to collaborate across party lines as long as the broader national interest is prioritised.
Responding to questions on whether he would continue to participate in the coalition if he is not chosen as its presidential candidate, Obi reaffirmed that his political engagement is driven by national interest, not ambition.
“I’m not desperate to be president of Nigeria,” he maintained.
Obi’s comments come at a time when political alignments and new power blocs are emerging across the country ahead of 2027, with several parties exploring coalitions to strengthen their chances in the next general election.
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