Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, is set to quit the embattled party amid its prolonged leadership crisis, with plans to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as coalition talks ahead of the 2027 general elections intensify.
The Labour Party has remained deeply divided following a leadership tussle between factions led by Julius Abure and Senator Nenadi Usman.
The crisis has persisted despite a Supreme Court judgment, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has yet to formally recognise either faction, leaving the party in a state of uncertainty and weakening its organisational structure nationwide.
Sources close to Daily Sun disclosed that INEC’s continued indecision has aggravated internal tensions within the LP, prompting the former Governor to explore an alternative political platform. Obi is said to be consulting widely with key stakeholders, including Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, as well as LP lawmakers, over his planned exit.
Attention has now shifted to the ADC, which is positioning itself as the platform for a broad opposition coalition aimed at unseating the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
The coalition brings together prominent political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Obi; former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi; former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; former Senate President, David Mark; and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola.
However, the coalition is already grappling with internal divisions, particularly over zoning and the presidential ticket. Within the ADC, three camps have emerged: those backing Atiku, those supporting Obi, and a third group rooting for Amaechi.
The zoning debate has become the coalition’s most contentious issue. While some leaders argue that power should rotate to the South in 2027, others within the Northern political bloc insist it is the North’s turn to reclaim the presidency.
Atiku’s supporters have reportedly proposed a ticket that would see him contest as presidential candidate with Obi as his running mate, citing the possibility of a single-term presidency that would later pave the way for the South East.
Critics within the coalition, however, question the viability of such an arrangement, recalling the 2019 election when Atiku and Obi ran on a joint ticket and lost to then-President Muhammadu Buhari. They argue that repeating the formula may not yield a different outcome in 2027.
Obi’s supporters are pushing for a consensus candidate from the South East, pointing to his performance in the 2023 election, where he secured millions of votes despite contesting on a relatively new platform.
Obi has reportedly indicated his willingness to serve a single term if selected as the coalition’s flag bearer but insists that the ADC must clearly define its zoning position before he formally joins the party.
Amaechi has also weighed in strongly on the zoning debate. Speaking to supporters, he recalled that in 2015 he opposed a southern presidency, insisting it was the North’s turn. Having supported the emergence of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, he said it would be inconsistent to now ask the South to relinquish power again.
“What can I tell the South now? That we should return power to the North? It would be difficult to justify,” Amaechi said, adding that he would not accept a vice-presidential slot, describing himself as “too presidential” for such a role unless specific conditions are met.
Meanwhile, the ADC has announced provisional timelines for its internal processes. National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, said party congresses and delegate elections at the polling unit, ward and local government levels are scheduled for January 20 to 27, 2026, with a non-elective national convention slated for February 2026 in Abuja.
As coalition talks continue, unresolved zoning disputes and competing ambitions threaten to test the unity of the ADC, even as opposition figures search for a viable path to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
