Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has publicly acknowledged that he is not certain of securing the African Democratic Congress presidential ticket for the 2027 elections, but declared that he is fighting for it and will not be deterred by threats, intimidation, or attempts to restrict his movements across the country.
Obi made the remarks while addressing supporters at a gathering where he reflected candidly on the challenges of opposition politics in Nigeria, the personal cost of his political journey, and the uncertainty that lies ahead as the ADC prepares for its presidential primaries.
In a moment of rare political candour, Obi told his supporters that he could not guarantee the outcome of the ADC’s internal processes but remained resolute in his pursuit.
“Somebody will ask me, how am I sure that ADC will give me ticket? It’s tough. I can’t. Most important thing is that we’re in this for a reason,” Obi said, drawing applause from the gathering.
“Neither am I sure that I have the ADC ticket. But I tell you one thing I’m sure — I’m fighting for it,” he declared to another round of applause.
The admission comes at a time when the ADC has three prominent presidential aspirants — Obi, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former Minister of Transportation Chibuike Amaechi — all of whom have insisted on contesting and refused to accept a running mate position.
Obi disclosed that he had received warnings and threats aimed at discouraging him from campaigning in certain parts of the country and attending certain gatherings. However, he said he responded by showing up even earlier than expected.
“Somebody asked me today, this morning, he said he heard this person say you should not come to this place. Instead of that, I drove to that place by 6:30 AM in the morning,” Obi revealed.
His remarks appeared to reference recent threats by Yoruba nation agitator Sunday Igboho, who had publicly declared that neither Obi nor Atiku Abubakar would be allowed to campaign in Yorubaland, pledging total support for President Bola Tinubu.
Obi said he has never woken up in the morning fearing for his safety because of his political activities. “I’ve never gotten up in the morning and feared that somebody’s going to harm me. We cannot fear in doing the right thing. Because we know we’re doing the right thing,” he stated.
In an emotional address, Obi painted a vivid picture of the challenges faced by those in opposition politics in Nigeria. He described a daily reality of disappointment, insults, name-calling, and government harassment targeting not just his political activities but his business interests as well.
“The government is after you, attacking whatever you do, your business, everywhere you go. This person says you should stop coming here, or you should not come here,” Obi said.
He acknowledged that being in opposition in Nigeria, where political patronage dominates, is an inherently difficult position.
“It is not easy to be in opposition in Nigeria, where everybody is sharing something. For those of you who are still supporting, even when there’s no result, and with sincerity, I thank you for the sacrifice and everything,” Obi told his audience.
Obi offered a philosophical reflection on why he continues to push forward despite the challenges, arguing that the consequences of abandoning the fight for good governance would be far worse than the difficulties of pursuing it.
“What if we were to abandon this project? Anarchy consumes everybody. If you throw up arms here now, tomorrow everybody is wrestling. Tomorrow, you go fight. And if there is any crisis, it consumes everybody,” he said.
He described this understanding as the driving force behind his daily efforts.
“That’s what is propelling us to get up every morning, running around all over the place with disappointment, with insult, with everything, with people getting up and calling you names,” Obi stated.
In a moment of vulnerability that drew both laughter and reflection from his audience, Obi raised the question of political loyalty and the risk of betrayal — a concern rooted in the experience of the 2023 election cycle where several prominent supporters eventually shifted allegiances.
“Those we are now working hard for, will not dump us again. How I wish that we will be sure,” Obi said, before pausing and adding with a laugh: “There’s no way we can be sure. We can’t be sure. It is difficult.”
The remark appeared to acknowledge the political reality that alliances in Nigerian politics are often fluid and that supporters who stand with a candidate during the difficult opposition years may not always remain loyal when circumstances change.
