Ahead of the 2027 poll, the South-South Emerging Leaders’ Forum (SELF) has alleged that the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, is planning to dump the coalition under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) due to fear that he might lose the presidential ticket of the party.
The forum, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Benjamin Kolowei, claimed that it was privy to information that Obi will eventually dump the coalition like he did before the presidential primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2022.
The forum said if Obi continues to blackmail the coalition to zone the presidential ticket to the South, the Northern region may be forced to agitate so as to complete the 18 years Southern Nigeria has held sway in the presidency.
The forum wondered why Peter Obi is afraid of open and transparent primary elections under the ADC coalition, chaired by former Senate President David Mark.
The forum called on the David Mark-led ADC leadership not to bow to any pressure to zone the ticket of the party to any zone, adding that Nigerians should be allowed to decide what they want.
“We note that Mr. Peter Obi and his Obedient movement, in recent times, have resorted to threatening and blackmailing the leadership of the coalition. We make bold to tell the former Anambra governor that such strategy will not work, in fact, it has failed woefully,” they noted.
“Records have shown that Mr. Obi has a history of running away from primary elections, which is a major aspect of democratic culture. If Mr. Obi claims to be a democrat, why is he always avoiding primary elections? Why is he looking for a free presidential ticket? He did that as a governor and, as recently as 2023, Mr. Obi abandoned PDP when it was time for the primary election.”
“As a forum of professionals and emerging leaders, we will not fold our hands and tolerate Peter Obi frustrating the ongoing arrangements to rescue our nation and have a credible alternative to the APC.”
“We hereby call on Mr. Peter Obi to stop his pretentious lifestyle, as if he is a saint or the only Messiah Nigeria is waiting for. If Mr. Obi wants to participate in a democratic contest, he should respect the rules of the game. Though he has never fought for or contributed to the development of the democratic process in Nigeria, so he does not know what it takes.”
“Obi and his Obedients should learn early that democracy is about contest, not about free lunch or free ticket. It is not about blackmail.”
“If Obi is looking for where he will be given a free presidential ticket, the door is open. Although we have gathered reliably that Mr. Obi has secured another platform, which he will soon unveil to contest in 2027, it is high time the leaders of the ADC coalition do not sleep with their two eyes closed. We are making it public that Peter Obi is not ready to cooperate and work with coalition leaders.”
“We are appealing that the ADC national leadership should ensure a credible and transparent primary election that will produce an acceptable candidate. Whoever wins the primary should be supported by all. If it is Peter Obi, if he still remains in the coalition, he should not be denied the massive support.”(Guardian)
