Former Anambra State governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, has concluded plans to leave the crisis-hit party and align with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as negotiations for a broad opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections continue to face hurdles over zoning and leadership.
The Labour Party has been engulfed in a prolonged leadership crisis, splitting the party into two factions—one led by Julius Abure and the other by Senator Nenadi Usman. The situation worsened following the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) refusal to recognise either faction in the aftermath of a Supreme Court judgment, leaving party members uncertain about the party’s official leadership.
Sources close to Obi told Daily Sun that INEC’s indecision has deepened internal instability within the LP, prompting the former governor to seek an alternative political platform. Obi is said to have begun consultations with key stakeholders in the party, including Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, as well as Labour Party lawmakers, over his planned exit.
The ADC is currently positioning itself as the platform for a coalition aimed at challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027. Leading figures in the coalition talks include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Obi, former Kaduna State governor Nasir el-Rufai, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, former Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, former Rivers State governor Chibuike Amaechi, former Senate President David Mark, and former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola.
However, the coalition is sharply divided over who should fly its presidential flag. The ADC is reportedly split into three camps—those backing Atiku, those supporting Obi, and another group rallying around Amaechi.
At the centre of the disagreement is zoning. While some coalition members argue that Atiku, who would be 80 years old by 2027, should step aside for a younger candidate, influential northern political blocs insist that power should return to the North. They argue that the South has held the presidency for an extended period and propose Atiku as presidential candidate with Obi as his running mate.
Critics of this arrangement within the coalition point to the 2019 election, when Atiku ran with Obi as his vice-presidential candidate and lost to then-incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari. They question whether a similar ticket would yield a different outcome in 2027.
Daily Sun learnt that in early May, Atiku’s camp formally offered Obi the vice-presidential slot on the proposed coalition ticket, though Obi reportedly did not give a definitive response. Proponents of the proposal argue that it would benefit the South-East, noting that Atiku could serve a single term before handing over to Obi, potentially addressing long-standing concerns about the region’s exclusion from the presidency since 1999.
Obi’s supporters, however, are pushing for a consensus candidate from the South-East. They cite his performance in the 2023 presidential election, where he secured millions of votes despite running on a relatively new platform without a nationwide political structure. Obi has also indicated his willingness to serve a single term if chosen as the coalition’s presidential candidate.
The Obidient Movement maintains that Obi’s appeal cuts across ethnic and regional lines, positioning him as the strongest challenger to President Bola Tinubu. Obi has reportedly insisted that the ADC must clearly define its zoning position before he formally commits to the party, underscoring the importance of the issue in his political calculations.
Meanwhile, Amaechi has publicly opposed another northern presidency at this time. Addressing supporters, he recalled that he had championed the North’s turn in 2015, leading to the election of the late President Muhammadu Buhari. He argued that it would be unfair to deny the South the presidency again.
“What can I tell the South now? ‘No, we do not want the presidency. Let’s go back to the North.’ It would be difficult for me to say that again,” Amaechi said. He also ruled out accepting a vice-presidential position, describing himself as “too presidential” for a subordinate role unless specific conditions are met.
Amid these developments, the ADC has announced provisional dates for its internal congresses. The party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, disclosed that congresses and delegate elections at polling unit, ward and local government levels are scheduled for January 20–27, 2026, while a Non-Elective National Convention is planned for February 2026 in Abuja.