Peter Obi says Coaltion yet to begin talks on 2027 presidential ticket

Former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has denied reports suggesting that he may be running for president or vice president in the 2027 elections on the platform of the opposition coalition recently adopted by the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

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Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Obi said no such discussions had taken place and that the decision on who would eventually contest rested entirely with the Nigerian people.

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“This is not in play,” Obi said.

“Nobody has ever discussed that with me — not about being A, B, or C. I don’t believe in assumptions. I’m part of a coalition that aims to produce a competent president with capacity. It must be on the ballot. The rest is up to Nigerians.”

The opposition coalition, made up of major political figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Governors Nasir el-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, and Mr. Obi himself, recently announced the adoption of the ADC as its political platform for the 2027 general elections.

Former Senate President David Mark has been appointed interim National Chairman of the party, while former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola will serve as National Secretary.

Obi criticised the current administration led by President Bola Tinubu, accusing it of misplaced priorities and a lack of empathy for the suffering of Nigerians.

He said the presidency should be about sacrifice, not luxury, and that a leader must be willing to die for the people.

“If I become president, I will use resources effectively. I cannot say, ‘buy a new jet.’ I don’t need one because I can go anywhere without a jet. I will not use N150 billion to buy a jet when 80 per cent of primary healthcare centres are not functioning,” he said.

Recalling his time as Anambra State governor, Obi said he lived modestly, driving a Peugeot 406 for four years and refusing to use bulletproof vehicles. “Nobody will try to kill you if you do the right thing. It is when you do the wrong thing that you fear death. If your people are dying, you should be ready to die. The president should also be ready to die,” he said.

He expressed confidence that if elected president, the northern region of the country would embrace his leadership, noting that the North holds the greatest untapped potential in Nigeria.

According to him, with its vast arable land, population strength, and natural resources, the North should be a driver of national development.

He promised to address the region’s persistent insecurity and underdevelopment.

“If I am president, the North will celebrate me. I have an idea of the problem,” he said.

“We have voted for incompetence, we’ve voted for tribe, we’ve voted for religion. Let’s vote for competence.”

On whether he had formally dumped the Labour Party, Obi said he remains a member of the party despite his involvement in the new opposition coalition. His remarks come amid speculation following the unveiling of ADC as the coalition’s platform.

Labour Party’s factional National Chairman, Julius Abure, had earlier suggested that Obi and others had effectively left the party by aligning with the coalition. Abure also called out Abia State Governor Alex Otti for allegedly misleading the public about his political affiliation, claiming Otti had joined the coalition’s caretaker committee.

Obi’s participation in the new coalition has not been followed by any official resignation from the Labour Party, unlike other coalition members such as Atiku Abubakar, El-Rufai, and Amaechi, who have reportedly withdrawn from their former political parties.

Speaking on Nigeria’s electricity challenges, Obi insisted that resolving the crisis is not rocket science but a matter of adopting proven models from other developing nations. Citing countries like Egypt, Vietnam, and India, he noted that progress in the power sector is possible within a few years if the right policies and commitments are made.

“It took Egypt five years. They were not going to fix it overnight. But nobody expects 100 per cent success; they want 100 per cent effort. If we decide, okay, we are now at 4,000 megawatts, and I’m going to do 8,000, there must be improvement,” he said.

He outlined his administration’s priorities to include security, education, healthcare, agriculture, and power. He said he would demand real-time updates on each of these sectors if elected.

“Things that, as president, I will have first-hand reports on daily are: number one, security of life and property; number two, basic education of our children — we have 18 million out-of-school children. It is more important for Nigeria to invest in education than in oil,” he said.

He also emphasised the need to reform the healthcare system by increasing insurance coverage and ensuring the functionality of primary health centres. In agriculture, he said he would focus on boosting productivity to serve as a foundation for manufacturing. Obi also stressed the importance of supporting small and medium enterprises with adequate interest rates to promote economic growth.

Addressing reports that he once worked with the late military ruler General Sani Abacha, Obi firmly denied the claim. He explained that the only interaction he had with the Abacha regime was through a business delegation that met with the then Minister of Finance to address congestion at the nation’s ports. Following the meeting, some private sector players were asked to join a temporary committee to help decongest the ports.

“That’s the only thing I had to do with the port. And when we finished — maybe two weeks, three weeks — they said it is now time to probe and reorganise the port. Because I have written in one of my comments that the Nigerian Ports Authority is the only port I know in the world that has an office outside its country of operation,” he said.

Obi added, “I have never met Abacha. I don’t know him. Everything I have done in my life is in the public space.” [keeping them honest]