The apex socio-cultural organization Ohanaeze Ndigbo has called upon the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to step down from politics and endorse the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, to form an alliance with the candidate from the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso. Ohanaeze believes that this strategic move would enhance the opposition’s prospects in the 2027 presidential election.
The organization has also cautioned that if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu decides to run in the 2027 election, the opposition will encounter significant challenges. Hence, there is a pressing need for this political realignment.
Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the Factional Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, emphasized that Peter Obi’s candidacy in the 2023 elections was not solely based on his Igbo identity or Igbo affiliations. Instead, it was driven by his vision for a new and prosperous Nigeria that transcends ethnic divisions and promotes unity among all Nigerians.
In a statement signed by Isiguzoro, Ohanaeze Ndigbo advises Peter Obi to look beyond 2023 and focus on the upcoming 2027 elections. The organization acknowledges Peter Obi’s dignified acceptance of the Supreme Court’s judgment regarding the 2023 Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), which declared President Tinubu as the rightful winner of the election. This conduct has earned Peter Obi respect from Nigerians across the political spectrum, including members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). It is seen as a subtle congratulations to President Tinubu and has prevented his supporters from being unfairly labeled as troublemakers.
Looking ahead, Ohanaeze Ndigbo anticipates that the opposition parties will face a formidable challenge in the 2027 elections if President Tinubu decides to seek re-election as the incumbent President. Without unity and consolidation into a strong political force, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) will face a daunting task. Therefore, at this critical juncture, Ohanaeze encourages former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to step back from active politics and assume the role of a statesman. They urge him to support Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso as the new faces of the opposition. Such a realignment is believed to significantly enhance the opposition’s political prospects in the 2027 elections.