A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dr. Peter Okeh, has said the 2027 presidential election will be a direct contest between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Nigerians affected by current socio-economic conditions, rather than a contest between political parties.
Speaking to journalists in Abakaliki on Sunday, Okeh said the coalition movement involving various political actors and platforms is gaining momentum due to the economic difficulties confronting citizens across the country.
“It was a relief that, in the context of abject poverty, extreme hunger, monumental corruption, insecurity, and state capture that the APC government has unleashed on Nigerians, a group of eminent Nigerians can come together to form a formidable force to stem the tide and save democracy in our country,” he said.
Okeh dismissed suggestions that the coalition’s emergence is primarily targeted at the APC, arguing instead that the general dissatisfaction among citizens would drive the political direction of the next election. He said, “The next election will be an election like no other — it will be an election between the APC and all the suffering Nigerians, home and abroad.”
He added that the coalition’s strength lies in its alignment with the current mood of the electorate. “This time, Nigerians will protect their votes, and no one will be given a free ride to rig the election like they did in the past,” he said.
On the issue of a possible presidential candidate, Okeh suggested that Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential flagbearer, should lead the coalition in the next election. He argued that Obi commands broad-based support and already has a strong following through the Obidient Movement.
“I actually believe that Mr. Peter Obi is the best person to head the coalition. He has all it takes to win the election. Politics, they say, is local, and Peter Obi has solid grassroots followers,” he said.
Okeh also noted that Obi had expanded his reach since the last election cycle and that recent political realities had further strengthened his position. “He has also learnt a lot of lessons from the experience of 2023. In addition, things are very much different now. He has reached out and travelled the nooks and crannies of this country, much more than he did before the 2023 general elections,” he said.
He further stated that regional considerations could also play a role in voter sentiment. “Many Nigerians will be uncomfortable to see that the southern part of the country is not allowed to complete the eight-year tenure, as has now become the norm in our politics,” he added.
