‘Power must be taken from APC at all costs’: Peter Obi asks Nigerians to support ADC ahead of 2027 elections

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on Nigerians to support the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to remove the All Progressives Congress (APC) from power in the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at a recent gathering in a video sighted by IntelRegion, Obi stated that opposition leaders have adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a coalition platform, expressing confidence that more parties and individuals will join before the polls.

“We, the leaders of the opposition, have adopted ADC. I can assure you that before 2027, more people will join,” he said. “If what the opposition wants is just to wrestle power but not to change the lives of Nigerians, count me out of it.”

Obi clarified that his drive in politics is not rooted in personal ambition but in a commitment to see Nigeria transformed. “I am not desperate for a political position nor to become president of Nigeria; I am desperate to see Nigeria change,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor also urged lawmakers to enact a law that prevents elected officials from defecting from the parties under which they were elected. He argued that party-switching after elections undermines democratic stability and betrays the electorate.

Our assembly should enact a law where nobody can leave their party after an election,” Obi stated. “If you want to change parties, it should be before the election; after the election, you must be there.”

In July 2025, a coalition of opposition parties, led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, adopted the ADC as their platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 poll.

The coalition also named former Senate President David Mark as interim national chairman and former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola as interim secretary.

While Atiku Abubakar, the former presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), is reportedly interested in the ADC presidential ticket, both Obi and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who are also members of the coalition that adopted the ADC, have separately pledged to serve only a single four-year term if elected.

Later in July 2025, at the sidelines of the 2nd Annual Colloquium of Associate Professor Abdulmumin Yinka Ajia in Ilorin, Kwara State, Obi said the presidential ticket should not be zoned to Northern Nigeria, as this would allow Southern Nigeria to complete their tenure.

He said, “Why should we have a northerner again when we can easily allow the south to complete their tenure to promote unity and cohesiveness? Afterwards, our northern brothers can take up their eight years.”

Obi, who was represented by the National Coordinator of the Obidients Movement, Dr. Tanko Yunusa, expressed strong confidence in his chances for the 2027 elections, reiterating his readiness to transform Nigeria as a capable and committed leader.

Dr. Yunusa urged the coalition to “seize this opportunity and avoid repeating the kind of political error that led to the late Moshood Abiola debacle,” referencing the annulled 1993 presidential election.

He confirmed that “Obi has already stated that he will contest in 2027, whether we get the coalition ticket or not. So we are not even contemplating whether or not he will run. But when we get to that level, the platform will be revealed.”