No Agreement Yet, Peter Obi Insists on Independent Political Path for 2027
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, has dismissed rumors of a potential merger with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), or any other political party ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a press conference held in Abuja on Thursday morning, Obi clarified that no merger or agreement had been made with any political party. He urged Nigerians who are concerned about the country’s future to come together for the 2027 elections in order to challenge and defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which he accused of mismanaging the nation’s resources.
Obi emphasized that the security situation in Nigeria had deteriorated under the current administration, with banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping causing needless deaths. He also lamented the high level of corruption in the country and the increasing cost of governance, both of which have contributed to a massive rise in public debt.
Further criticizing the current government, Obi pointed out that government officials had willfully mismanaged public funds, highlighting the issue of excessive foreign travels by politicians in 2024.
During the 2023 presidential election, Tinubu of the APC emerged victorious, securing 8,794,726 votes, nearly two million more than Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, who garnered 6,984,520 votes. Obi, despite being a first-time contestant, garnered an impressive 6,101,533 votes. Meanwhile, NNPP’s Rabiu Kwankwaso, who also defected from the PDP, secured 1,496,687 votes, winning his home state of Kano.
Both Obi and Kwankwaso had been members of the PDP before citing irreconcilable differences as reasons for their exit. Obi now focuses on organizing a political coalition of concerned Nigerians ahead of the 2027 election to offer a viable alternative to the APC’s leadership.
