Obi Rejects Atiku Coalition, Vows To Contest 2027 Election Under LP

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has poured cold water on the emerging coalition of opposition political parties, declaring on Saturday that he will run for president again in the 2027 general elections under the Labour Party.

He made the declaration while speaking to a group of young supporters in a video that is in circulation.

Obi, in the 7-minute, 16-second video, addressed concerns about the perceived internal crises within both the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), attributing these issues to external influences from the current government.

“What is happening in the Labour Party and the PDP is caused by the government; quote me anywhere.

“We had a problem at our party before, in the past. I went to him then; he called the INEC Chairman and told him he didn’t want any problems in any party. We were forced to fix it,” he explained.

“Today, all parties are experiencing issues that are deliberately created by the system. These are some of the matters I aim to address if given the opportunity.”

When asked which party he intended to contest in the 2027 elections, Obi stated that “I will continue to run in the Labour Party, as I am still a member.”

Obi urged Nigerians to take ownership of their electoral power, stressing that while political parties may hire agents to safeguard their interests, it is ultimately the voters who hold the key to ensuring their votes are counted.

He encouraged the youth and the electorate to remain hopeful, reminding them that resistance to positive change often comes from those benefiting from the status quo.

The Anambra State former governor expressed his views on political longevity, suggesting that there should be a retirement age for politicians seeking public office, noting that by the time the 2027 elections occur, he will be 65 years old, indicating he does not wish to be campaigning in his 70s.