Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, has warned that the African Democratic Congress (ADC)-led coalition is facing serious internal strain due to unresolved disagreements over zoning and the rotation of key political offices.
Obi spoke during an interview aired on Wednesday on a YouTube programme hosted by Advocacy for Good Governance, where he openly questioned the clarity and structure guiding the coalition’s 2027 ambition.
While affirming his continued membership of the Labour Party and support for the ADC coalition project, the former Anambra governor said the alliance must first define and agree on its core principles before it can inspire widespread national confidence.
According to him, the absence of clear, signed agreements on the presidency and other strategic offices poses a grave risk to the stability of the coalition and could spark confusion as political activities intensify.
Obi disclosed that several understandings currently being referenced within the coalition remain informal and undocumented, stressing that such sensitive arrangements must be properly negotiated and formally settled.
He argued that failure to clearly organise power-sharing arrangements ahead of time could trigger future disputes capable of undermining the credibility and unity of the coalition.
Despite his concerns, Obi expressed confidence in the leadership figures driving the process, describing the interim national chairman, David Mark, as a seasoned leader with the political depth to manage complex negotiations.
He also referred to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as his political leader, saying he holds him in high regard and believes he is genuinely committed to Nigeria’s progress.
Obi, however, said his involvement in the coalition is not driven by personal ambition, declaring that his overriding goal is to see Nigeria work, whether or not he eventually emerges as the coalition’s presidential flag-bearer.
