ADC declares Peter Obi eligible despite Labour Party stay

DDM News

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has confirmed that former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, remains eligible to contest the party’s presidential ticket in the 2027 general elections.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the ADC issued the clarification on Sunday, July 21, 2025, in response to growing public confusion and media speculation regarding Obi’s political future, particularly his potential switch to another party.

The clarification came through a press statement by ADC’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.

In the statement, Abdullahi explained that Obi has been granted a “special concession” to retain his affiliation with the Labour Party for the time being, in order to avoid derailing the political aspirations of his loyalists running in the upcoming Anambra State gubernatorial election.

“This is a strategic and temporary exception,” Abdullahi said, “to accommodate ongoing commitments of our future stakeholders and to prevent unnecessary conflict within the broader opposition alliance.”

The ADC spokesperson added that the arrangement is not unique to Obi, noting that former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has been granted a similar waiver. El-Rufai is reportedly supporting candidates contesting under the Social Democratic Party (SDP), even as he remains in alignment with the ADC for the 2027 elections.

Abdullahi stressed that both Obi and El-Rufai are not only eligible but are being welcomed as essential figures in the new opposition movement expected to reshape Nigeria’s political landscape before the next general election.

Observers say the ADC’s move reveals an emerging strategy of flexibility, where political transitions are less abrupt and more negotiated.

It also underscores the fluid nature of Nigeria’s opposition politics, especially with a growing consensus among opposition leaders to form a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Peter Obi, who came third in the controversial 2023 presidential election, has remained a polarizing figure in Nigerian politics.

His appeal among youths and urban voters continues to grow, especially as Nigerians grapple with economic hardship and insecurity.

While his prolonged stay in the Labour Party has raised eyebrows among ADC insiders, Abdullahi’s statement appears to have calmed fears of disqualification.

However, questions remain as to how long Obi can straddle both camps without triggering tensions within the LP.

Already, there are reports of unease among Labour Party officials who feel Obi’s loyalty may be shifting.

Political analysts warn that such dual alignment could eventually lead to fragmentation if not handled delicately.

For now, ADC’s olive branch signals a more pragmatic approach to coalition-building in a deeply divided political environment.

But whether Peter Obi ultimately embraces the ADC fully, or engineers a third-force alliance, remains to be seen.

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