Labour Party Rejects Rumours of Obi Stepping Down, Says ‘Withdrawing Him Is Betraying Nigerians’ Hope’

The Labour Party has dismissed speculations that its 2027 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, could step down for any political coalition or rival aspirant, insisting that such a move would betray the trust of millions of Nigerians yearning for change.

The party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Tony Akeni, stated this in an interview with Saturday, stressing that withdrawing Obi from the race would “take away 90 per cent of Nigerians’ hope for redemption and a new beginning.”

Akeni noted that while discussions among stakeholders may take place closer to the party primaries, the Labour Party and the Obidient Movement remain resolute in their commitment to Obi’s candidacy.

“There is no substitute for the Labour Party’s ideology,” he said. “Our motto remains forward ever, backward never. We are going all out for the presidency if the coalition does not make the right decision.”

He also urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to “prove his love for the country” by supporting Obi in 2027. “Let Atiku think about his legacy — would he prefer to be remembered as the man who sacrificed Nigeria for his ambition and lost, or the one who gave up his ambition to save Nigeria?” Akeni asked.

Akeni further revealed that a coalition tagged “AGOBI’27” (Atiku Givus Obi 2027) had been initiated by some stakeholders to persuade Atiku to back Obi as a consensus opposition candidate.

Similarly, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, reaffirmed that the 2027 presidency should remain in the South, in line with Nigeria’s informal power rotation understanding.

“By the current arrangement, it is still the South’s turn. If you must replace a southern candidate, it must be with another southern candidate,” Tanko said, warning that any attempt to return power to the North could threaten national unity.

Tanko maintained that the movement firmly believes Obi remains the best choice for Nigeria. “We believe Peter Obi has the quality, capacity, character, and compassion to make things work. Wherever he goes, we will follow,” he declared.

The comments follow recent clarifications by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who denied reports suggesting he planned to step down ahead of the 2027 elections. Atiku explained through his media aide, Paul Ibe, that his BBC Hausa interview was misinterpreted, clarifying that he only said he would support a younger candidate if such a person emerged through a transparent primary.

Despite his clarification, talks about a possible opposition alliance between Atiku and Obi persist. Political observers believe the opposition may seek a unified front in 2027 to prevent a repeat of the 2023 election, where multiple opposition candidates split votes — a factor that analysts say contributed to President Bola Tinubu’s victory.

For now, both Obi and Atiku remain pivotal to these discussions, though neither has formally committed to a joint ticket.