A new wave of speculation has erupted over the involvement of former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in the opposition coalition spearheaded by the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
It was revealed that Obi may have been tricked into joining the opposition coalition.
Recently, there are indications that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar could emerge as a key contender for the coalition ADC’s presidential ticket, following clues that he would contest in 2027.
Speaking earlier at a function, Atiku said, “I swear to God, if elected, whoever steals or engages in any corruption-related activities, we will declare war against them and they must be punished.” This gives credence to the fact that the former vice president intend to contest in the 2027 presidential election.
Obi has also disclosed plans to run for a single term, after which he would hand over.
“I have not joined in any form of discussion on joint tickets, including with Atiku. If there is any form of agreement that will restrict me to four years in office, I will comply with the agreement and be ready to leave office on the 28th of May 2031; not the 29th, but the 28th,” Obi said.
Former Special Adviser on Public Affairs to Obi during the 2023 presidential election, Katchy Ononuju, said the former Anambra governor may have been tricked into joining the coalition with hopes of emerging as its candidate.
Ononuju said Obi was tricked to join the coalition and that after its inauguration, they would negotiate the terms of his presidency.
According to Ononuju, “The coalition was just a trick. They tricked Peter Obi, saying don’t worry, go and register, go, let us inaugurate. We will zone to the South and after the inauguration declaration, we will now start negotiating on the terms of you being the presidential candidate. I told him that these people are tricking; they are not proper.
“By the way, I served as Peter Obi’s Special Adviser on Public Affairs during the last election. I and Doyin Okupe founded the youth movement from the PDP. We decided that we would not allow the party to run away from inclusion which is driven by zoning. After several pleadings, we convinced Peter Obi to head what we were doing. That is why it became the Obidient Movement. I would not allow what I founded to be reduced to nothing and that is why I told Peter Obi that I and my people would not support him if he ever submitted to anything that we do not believe will allow our aspirations to be given expression. You know that when you are Vice President you are nothing. Look at Shettima; remember the days of Goodluck; look at Osinbajo. It does not work that way.
“Our problem is very simple. We worked in the PDP and we know that the pendulum between the North and South in terms of zoning means even if you get to the North in a Volkswagen Beetle, you have gotten to the North. The next thing is that the pendulum must return to the South. If it returns to the South in a Mercedes, it does not matter. What I mean is that no matter the party you use in getting a Northerner into power, when it comes the other way, it has to be a Southerner. We said if the North has done eight years, it has to be the turn of the South.”
Ononuju, who is Director General of the Heritage Centre—a think tank focused on research into economics, politics, and opinions—also accused Atiku of deception and of refusing to honour zoning of the presidency to the South.
“The same Atiku that refused and tried to lie to some people by saying it should go to the South and Southeast in the same year. Why is he suddenly refusing to allow zoning to the South? That was why I told Peter Obi that this is a trick. That was why he went on Channels Television four days ago and gave that coded interview that the ADC is a futurist prospect for cooperation in 2027; but for now he remains in his party. But by that time the harm had been done.
“Atiku started talking about what his government would do. I told Peter Obi even yesterday that it is builders that plant the pillars; they are the ones who will ground-fill. ADC is an Atiku Abubakar construct. You are not going to get it and we are dealing with people who are masters of deceit called Takiyah. You have now seen that Atiku has brought out his real dealings,” he said.
