Peter Obi, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, has said the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition is facing internal tensions over unresolved zoning and rotation issues ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking on the YouTube programme Advocacy for Good Governance on Wednesday, Obi stressed that the coalition must clarify its foundational agreements to operate effectively.
“Today, I’m a member of the Labour Party, okay, and I subscribe to the coalition — the ADC coalition — for the 2027 election, and 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
He explained that the coalition currently operates on “unsigned agreements” regarding the presidency and rotation of positions, an arrangement he warned could trigger confusion if not formally resolved.
He said, “Today, we have what we can say are unsigned agreements about the presidency, unsigned agreements about rotation of offices.
“Which is why if you say this person will come from here and this person will come from there, all those things need to be organised.”
Obi stressed that all parties must “sit down and talk about where we’re driving the country to,” adding that the coalition still has “fine lines that we need to respect, where things must be done properly.”
The former Anambra governor, however, expressed confidence in the coalition’s leadership, praising retired Senate President David Mark and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, whom he described as “his leader.”
“I believe he has the political sagacity to lead the party and so many others we have there; people like my own leader, Atiku — someone I have all my respect for, who I believe believes in the good of Nigeria, and wants the best for Nigeria and all that.”
When asked if he would stay committed to the coalition if not chosen as its presidential candidate, Obi emphasized that his focus is on national progress rather than personal ambition. “I’m not desperate to be president of Nigeria,” he said. “I’m desperate to see Nigeria work.”
