The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has asked Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, to make a definite decision on whether he intends to join the party’s coalition ahead of the 2027 presidential race.
The party said Obi would not be pressured into joining despite the influence he commands within the emerging political alliance.
Obi had on Wednesday expressed concern that the ADC-led coalition was “faltering” due to unresolved issues surrounding zoning and the rotation of key political offices. However, he also expressed confidence in the coalition’s leadership, including former Senate President David Mark and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Responding in an interview, ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi said the coalition had not reached a stage where zoning should form part of its discussions. According to him, the current focus is on building credibility and offering Nigerians a viable political alternative.
“We’re not talking about zoning or no zoning now. Nigerians are still waiting for us to tell them what we will do differently. So, zoning or no zoning is not on the table now. If that is the condition for Obi to join us, maybe he should wait till that time,” Abdullahi said.
He urged Obi to make a firm decision regarding his political alignment as preparations for the 2027 elections gather pace.
“I understand what Peter has been saying. But I will encourage him to make up his mind if he wants to be part of the coalition or not. The most important thing for us is convincing Nigerians that we represent a credible alternative, and this is without prejudice to where the candidate will come from,” he added.
Abdullahi noted that while the party values Obi’s role and contributions, its broader objective of developing a strong, issue-driven political platform remains the priority.
“For us, we want Peter Obi to join us in building a political party that can reset Nigerian politics and provide a credible alternative. But if zoning is the condition on which he continues to assess the coalition, he should probably wait until we get to that point,” he said.
Addressing Obi’s earlier description of the coalition as “unstable,” Abdullahi disagreed, insisting that the movement remains strong and organised.
“It’s unfortunate that he used a word like unstable, because instability is not contingent on whether we are able to make certain decisions on zoning at this point. We are stable. Within five months, we have offices in 27 or 28 states without a single political officeholder. That’s a major achievement,” he said.
He encouraged Obi to play a more active role in strengthening the coalition, particularly in Anambra State.
“We want him to be part of our journey. We want him to be part of building the party,” Abdullahi added.