‘I Am Contesting as Number One’ — Obi reaffirms 2027 Presidential plan

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has once again declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, linking support in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) elections to his broader national political ambition.

Obi made the declaration while campaigning for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging supporters to mobilise ahead of the local government polls.

“You see this coming election, support us in AMAC; it will help me. Your support in AMAC is critical to our journey. I am involved and contesting the coming election as number one. When I come back, you will see. I assure you,” Obi told supporters.

Since aligning with the ADC, Obi’s supporters, including members of the Obidient movement, have intensified calls for the party to adopt him as its presidential flagbearer for 2027. However, ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi recently cautioned party members against divisive rhetoric, stressing the importance of unity as the party prepares for future elections.

Speculation has also grown around a possible Peter Obi–Rabiu Kwankwaso presidential ticket, particularly following Kwankwaso’s decision not to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). At the same time, supporters of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar have renewed calls for Obi to consider a vice-presidential role, similar to the 2019 arrangement.

Obi, however, dismissed such suggestions, reiterating that his focus remains firmly on contesting the 2027 election as a presidential candidate. He has consistently maintained that, if elected, he would serve only one term, insisting he would not spend “a day beyond four years in office.”

Urging voters to back his preferred candidate in the AMAC poll, Obi described local support as “crucial to his political journey,” linking grassroots mobilisation to his national political objective.

Meanwhile, in a separate post on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday, Obi painted a bleak picture of the country’s condition under the title “A Distressing January for Nigeria.”

He criticised the president’s frequent foreign travels, arguing that international engagements were prioritised over domestic governance.

“While leaders in other nations prioritise domestic governance in January, Nigeria’s president prioritises international engagements over pressing national issues,” Obi wrote, noting that the president spent 23 days abroad in January alone across two foreign trips.

Obi also raised concerns about worsening insecurity, citing “several killings, hundreds of kidnappings and abductions,” including women and children, with ransom demands running into millions of naira. He lamented that many farmers remain unable to return to their farmlands, deepening food insecurity and rural poverty.

On education, Obi said the sector continues to suffer neglect, with schools shut due to insecurity and industrial actions, even in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

“This is particularly tragic in Abuja, the seat of government, where schools remain shuttered, despite billions spent on renovating a conference centre and bus terminals,” he said.

He further criticised Nigeria’s power sector, pointing out that the national electricity grid collapsed twice in January, worsening economic and social hardship.

Obi concluded that the country faces a convergence of crises, including insecurity, economic distress, failing infrastructure, and social instability, accusing the ruling APC of focusing more on political rallies and defections than governance.

“A new Nigeria is POssible,” he stated.