Former Governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, has allayed fears of losing the Party primary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), stressing that the coalition was more about national rescue, and not rivalry.
This was as he specifically dismissed growing speculation that former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar may likely hijack the ADC presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking with journalists during his recent visit to the LEA Primary School, Kapwa, Abuja, Obi pointedly said that he had no fear whatsoever concerning Atiku’s political moves, saying that the former Vice President remains a “dear elder brother and respected leader”.
He disclosed that other parties and concerned Nigerians are going to be part of the ADC, adding that all of the members of the party would come together as a people ahead of the 2027 elections.
Obi further said; “Let me tell you. Atiku is a very dear elder brother and leader that I have a lot of respect for. I’m a member of the Labour Party and I belong to the coalition forming the ADC for the presidential election in 2027.
“For us to do the right thing for the country, all well-meaning people will have to come together to rescue the country,” he said.
The speculation of Atiku hijacking the ADC presidential primary followed reports that the supporters and loyalists of the former Vice President are resigning from the Peoples Democratic Party and moving into the ADC in droves, a development that unsettled the supporters of Peter Obi, thus cascaded and escalated fears of a possible complete takeover of the coalition party.
The anxiety was further deepened as Atiku told the BBC Hausa Service in a recent interview that he was not going to step down for any aspirant, but if he is defeated, he would support whoever emerges.
The position of Atiku sent jitters into the political spine of Obi’s supporters in the ADC and also vibrated political circles thereby ignited fresh debate on his 2027 ambitions.
