An elder statesman, Mazi Austin Iwuala, has warned that the Africa Democratic Congress, ADC risks political extinction in the South-East, especially in Imo State, if it fails to field Mr. Peter Obi as its presidential candidate in the next general election.
Iwuala, who spoke to this newspaper said the Labour Party’s performance in the 2023 general elections was not a fluke but a clear testament to Obi’s grassroots acceptability across the zone.
He warned that any move to support another candidate, especially former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, would amount to “political suicide” for ADC in the South-East.
“In 2023, even an okada rider in Ebonyi State won a federal constituency seat under Labour Party. That tells you how deeply rooted Obi is,”
“It’s not about party structure anymore—it’s about the man, his credibility, and the people’s connection to him.” he said.
The Publicity Secretary of OZM, one of the groups advocating for an Imo governor of Owerri zone extraction insisted that Peter Obi remains the most marketable candidate in the ADC, noting that he was on the verge of winning the presidential election in 2023 but for “the mysterious glitch at INEC that altered the will of Nigerians.”
“Obi didn’t just win hearts—he won votes. If not for INEC’s suspicious failures, he would be president today. Anyone trying to downplay that momentum is either dishonest or politically naïve,” Iwuala added.
According to him, the ADC’s chances in the 2027 governorship election in the South East hinge critically on Obi’s elevation as its presidential flagbearer.
He described the former Anambra State Governor as “a wave no one can stop,” stressing that a presidential win in 2027 for Obi would translate into massive down-ballot victories for the party.
“For Imo State, an Obi victory at the top is almost a guarantee of a landslide at the governorship level. But if ADC turns around to present Atiku, then it should forget about Imo. Even if we field the best governorship candidate, the people will reject us,” he warned.
He accused some unnamed South-East politicians of trying to foist Atiku on the party.
“If the ADC coalition was secretly designed for Atiku, then let’s not deceive ourselves. It’s a trap. The masses are awake now. They won’t fall for it,” he said.
He called on ADC leaders to “read the mood of the South East” and align with the political realities on ground.
“There is only one name that ignites hope in the South-East right now—Peter Obi. Ignore that name, and you dig your political own grave.” he stated.
Iwuala urged the national leadership of the ADC to resist pressure from political merchants and stand with the people.
“This is the time to make a bold statement. If we get it wrong in 2027, ADC may never recover in the South-East.” he concluded.
