Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, has raised a critical alarm about the stability of a major opposition coalition. He stated that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition is on shaky ground because it has failed to resolve fundamental issues concerning zoning and the rotation of key political offices ahead of the 2027 polls.
Coalition's Fundamental Flaws Exposed
Obi made these revelations during an interview on YouTube with the platform Advocacy for Good Governance on Wednesday. He emphasized that for the coalition to succeed, it must establish clear internal agreements and present a unified vision for Nigeria's future. "Today, I’m a member of the Labour Party, okay, and I subscribe to the coalition, the ADC coalition, for the 2027 election and I believe in it," Obi stated. However, he quickly noted a significant caveat to his support.
"But as much as I believe in it, I need to know the fundamentals that we all agree to respect," he explained. The former Anambra State governor pointed out that there are still fine lines that need respecting, where proper procedures must be followed. "We must sit down and talk about where we’re driving the country to," he insisted.
Unsigned Agreements and Future Confusion
Delving into the core of the problem, Obi identified that certain pivotal questions remain unanswered within the coalition. The most pressing issue revolves around how top political seats, especially the presidency, will be shared among the partnering parties.
"Today, we have what we can say are unsigned agreements about the presidency, unsigned agreements about rotation of offices," Obi disclosed. He elaborated that vague promises about which region or zone a candidate will come from are insufficient and require proper organization. The consequence of inaction, he warned, is severe. "The reason why it needs to be organised is: if you don’t do it, you create confusion for the future," he cautioned.
Respect for Leaders and National Priority
Despite highlighting the coalition's structural weaknesses, Obi expressed confidence in the caliber of political figures involved in the talks. He specifically mentioned former Senate President David Mark, whom he described as the coalition's chairman and a respected figure with the political sagacity to lead.
Perhaps more notably, Obi referred to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as "my own leader." He expressed deep respect for Atiku, stating, "someone I have all my respect for, who I believe believes in the good of Nigeria, and wants the best for Nigeria and all that."
When confronted with a direct question about his personal ambitions within the coalition, Obi's response was unequivocal. He declared that his primary motivation is national progress, not personal power. "I’m not desperate to be president of Nigeria, I’m desperate to see Nigeria work," he asserted, indicating he would continue to support the coalition's ideals even if he is not selected as its presidential flagbearer.
This public airing of internal disagreements casts a shadow over the ADC coalition's viability as a united front to challenge the ruling party in the 2027 elections. It underscores the perennial Nigerian political challenge of balancing regional interests with national objectives within broad alliances.
