The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has stated that Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, does not need to form a coalition with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or seek support from political figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to secure victory in the 2027 presidential election.
In an exclusive interview, Professor Theophilus Ndubuaku, Deputy President of the NLC Political Commission, described Obi as a strong and widely accepted candidate who is fully capable of defeating President Bola Tinubu in a free and fair election.
Ndubuaku dismissed speculation suggesting Obi might rejoin the PDP, branding the opposition party a “crisis-ridden and virtually empty platform”.
He stated: “Peter Obi does not need any coalition to win the 2027 presidential election. He is a marketable candidate. If you recall, he was on course to win the 2023 election before the controversial glitches. He even defeated Tinubu in his own stronghold of Lagos, which clearly indicates that Nigerians want him in power.”
“As long as INEC conducts a free and fair election, he will win. He can also leverage his local and international networks to achieve that,” Ndubuaku added.
His remarks come just days after the Obidients Movement reaffirmed their unwavering support for Obi, regardless of the political platform he chooses to contest on in 2027.
Dr Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the movement, stressed that Nigeria is in urgent need of rescue and asserted that Obi remains the only candidate capable of steering the country out of its current economic crisis.
Reinforcing Tanko’s position, Ndubuaku maintained that Obi enjoys broad-based support across all six geopolitical zones and cautioned against any move to rejoin the PDP.
“No serious candidate would presently consider the PDP a viable platform,” he said. “Obi is a disciplined individual. If people are suggesting he should return to the PDP, on what grounds? Compare the PDP’s internal challenges with those of the Labour Party. While the LP’s leadership dispute—centred on Julius Abure—has been resolved by the Supreme Court, the PDP continues to grapple with a hydra-headed crisis. Leaving LP for the PDP would be akin to jumping from the frying pan into the fire.”
He also dismissed concerns over zoning and power rotation, arguing that Obi’s proven track record should override such apprehensions.
Sanwo-Olu’s Ally Achimugu in Trouble as EFCC Uncovers 136 Accounts, $25.3m Oil Deal
“The only hesitation some quarters have is that if Obi wins, he may serve the full eight years, which some in the North fear could disrupt the zoning arrangement. But we know Obi doesn’t need eight years to transform Nigeria. He is not desperate for power,” Ndubuaku concluded.
