...Obi battles Atiku, Amaechi for presidential ticket
ABUJA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | Mr Peter Obi, Former Anambra State governor and Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has concluded arrangements to leave the embattled party for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), amid mounting difficulties surrounding coalition talks ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly over zoning.
The Labour Party has been engulfed in a protracted leadership crisis that has split it into two rival camps—one led by Julius Abure and the other by Senator Nenadi Usman. The situation has been further complicated by the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) refusal to formally recognise either faction following a Supreme Court ruling, effectively throwing the party into uncertainty.
Sources close to Obi told iNews Times that INEC’s position has aggravated the crisis within the LP, pushing the former governor to explore alternative political platforms. Obi is said to have begun consultations with key stakeholders within the party, including Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, and some lawmakers, regarding his planned exit.
Within the ADC, the emerging coalition is being positioned as a formidable challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Key figures involved in the coalition include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Obi, former Kaduna State governor Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, former Rivers State governor Chibuike Amaechi, former Senate President David Mark, and former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola. However, disagreements have emerged over who should lead the coalition’s presidential ticket.
The ADC coalition is currently divided into three blocs, those backing Atiku, those supporting Obi, and another group rallying behind Amaechi. Zoning has become the most contentious issue. While some coalition members argue that Atiku, who would be 80 years old by 2027, should step aside for a younger candidate, others, particularly within the northern political establishment, insist that power should return to the North, with Obi proposed as a running mate. Critics of this arrangement have raised concerns about a possible repeat of the 2019 election, when Atiku ran with Obi and lost to then-President Muhammadu Buhari. They question whether the same ticket could yield a different outcome in 2027.
It was gathered in early May that Atiku’s camp offered Obi the vice-presidential slot on the coalition ticket, though Obi reportedly did not give a firm response. Proponents of the proposal argue that it would favour the South East, noting that if Atiku serves a single term, power would eventually shift to Obi, ending the region’s long wait for the presidency since the return to democracy in 1999.
Obi’s camp, however, is pushing for a consensus that would support a South Eastern candidate outright. His supporters point to his strong performance in the 2023 election, where he secured millions of votes despite contesting on a relatively new platform without an entrenched political structure. Obi has also indicated his willingness to serve a single term if chosen as the coalition’s candidate. The Obidient Movement maintains that his appeal cuts across ethnic and regional boundaries, positioning him as the strongest contender against President Bola Tinubu. Obi has insisted that the ADC must clearly define its zoning position before he formally joins the party, underscoring the importance of the issue to his decision.
Amaechi has also weighed in on the zoning debate, recalling that in 2015 he had argued it was the North’s turn to produce the president and supported the late Muhammadu Buhari. He said it would now be unfair to ask the South to relinquish the presidency again. According to him, the South cannot be perpetually sidelined simply because the North seeks to retain power.
“What will I tell the South now, that we do not want the presidency and should return it to the North? It would be difficult for me to say that again,” Amaechi said. He added that while he is open to contesting, he would not accept a vice-presidential position, describing himself as “too presidential” for a subordinate role, except under clearly defined conditions.
Meanwhile, the ADC has announced tentative dates for its internal congresses. National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola disclosed that congresses and delegate elections at polling unit, ward and local government levels are scheduled for January 20–27, 2026, while a non-elective national convention is planned for February 2026 in Abuja.
