Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi’s presidential ambition ahead of the 2027 general elections remains uncertain as debates persist over the political platform he will contest under.

Obi, who ran for president in 2023 on the Labour Party (LP) ticket, is a key member of the coalition of opposition leaders strategizing to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the next election.

On July 2, 2025, the coalition—which includes Obi, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, and former Governors Nasir El-Rufai and Rotimi Amaechi—announced the adoption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their joint political platform for the upcoming polls.

However, Obi’s chances of clinching the ADC presidential ticket appear to be fading, as the party’s leadership reportedly leans toward supporting Atiku.

According to party insiders, the ADC will not produce a consensus candidate but instead hold a primary election to select its flag bearer. Yet, reports from Obi’s camp suggest that the former presidential candidate is unwilling to face Atiku in such a contest.

Obidient Movement: Obi Won’t Join “Dollarised” Primaries

Supporters of Obi, under the banner of the Obidient Movement, have stated that he will not participate in any “dollarised” delegate election within the ADC.

The movement’s National Coordinator, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, emphasized that Obi’s political ideology rejects heavily monetized primaries.

“Peter Obi will not pay delegates to win votes. Those who have amassed wealth from public funds would easily outspend him. We are running a different kind of campaign,” Tanko stated.

He further argued that since the presidency has been zoned to the South, there should be no reason to prioritize a Northern candidate, adding that this would improve the opposition’s chances in 2027.

When asked whether Obi might defect to another party, Tanko said, “When we reach that bridge, we will cross it.”

ADC Yet to Decide on Consensus or Primary

The National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, declined to confirm reports that the party has ruled out a consensus arrangement.

He explained that discussions about presidential candidates are not the party’s current priority, as efforts remain focused on strengthening the party’s structure.

“Nobody in the ADC is presently discussing whether we’ll go for consensus or primaries. Our focus right now is on building the party, not on who becomes our candidate,” he said.

Abdullahi also clarified that both Peter Obi and Nasir El-Rufai are not yet registered members of the ADC.

“In Obi’s case, he may formally join after the upcoming Anambra governorship election. Until then, he continues to support candidates from his original party,” he added.

Analysts: Labour Party Crisis May Block Obi’s Return

Some political observers believe Obi’s prospects of returning to the Labour Party are slim due to the party’s lingering internal crisis.

Political analyst Dr. Anabi Samuel argued that the factional leadership of LP, led by Julius Abure, could frustrate Obi’s ambitions.

“Obi has made several enemies within the LP, and obtaining the party’s ticket might be a difficult task. Even if he does, internal opposition could undermine his chances,” Samuel noted.

He further advised that if Obi fails to secure the ADC ticket, he might have to suspend his ambition unless the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) offers him a platform.

“There are speculations that he is considering forming or joining a new party. That would be a mistake—2027 won’t be like 2023. He needs a party with a solid structure to stand a chance,” Samuel added.

Labour Party: No Automatic Ticket for Obi

Despite claims that Obi helped bring national recognition to the Labour Party, the party’s leadership has maintained that he will not receive an automatic presidential ticket.

Factional National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, stressed that the party’s primaries would be competitive and transparent.

“Our primary election will be democratic. All interested aspirants will have the opportunity to contest. Granting an automatic ticket to anyone would be undemocratic,” he said.