Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has publicly outlined the fundamental reasons behind the current instability within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition, a key opposition platform aiming to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
Core Issues: Zoning and Unsigned Agreements
Speaking during an interview on the YouTube channel 'Advocacy for Good Governance' on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, Obi pinpointed the lack of consensus on critical issues as the coalition's primary weakness. He stated that the ADC coalition is yet to settle pivotal questions regarding zoning and the rotation of key offices, including the presidency.
"Today, we have what we can say are unsigned agreements about the presidency, unsigned agreements about rotation of offices," Obi explained. He emphasized that for the coalition to be effective, these "fine lines" must be respected and properly organized to prevent future confusion. "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," he added.
A Call for Clear Direction and Unity
Obi, who polled third in the 2023 presidential race with his Labour Party, stressed that the coalition must first agree on a shared vision for Nigeria. "The ADC must sit down and talk about where the party is driving Nigeria to," he asserted. While expressing his belief in the coalition's potential, Obi insisted on clarity: "But as much as I believe in it, I need to know the fundamentals that we all agree to respect."
The coalition, which notably includes former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, was formally launched in Abuja in July 2025. Its stated goal is to forge a united front capable of unseating the incumbent administration.
Context and Speculations
This revelation comes amidst public speculation about who will ultimately secure the coalition's presidential ticket. Recall that in October 2025, Prophet Abel Boma predicted via social media that Peter Obi would not secure the ADC presidential ticket for the 2027 election. However, Obi has previously stated he is not afraid of losing the ticket to a figure like Atiku Abubakar, prioritizing a cohesive opposition above personal ambition.
The Labour Party candidate garnered 8,794,726 votes in the 2023 election, which was won by President Bola Tinubu. The success of the ADC coalition hinges on its ability to consolidate these opposition votes and present a clear, structured alternative to the electorate.
For now, Obi's message serves as a crucial internal memo to coalition leaders: to solidify their pact, they must urgently tidy up the loose ends of zoning and power-sharing agreements. The stability of Nigeria's main opposition alliance for the 2027 polls depends on it.
