Peter Obi, a former presidential candidate under the ticket of the Labour Party, says he will contest the 2027 elections as the presidential candidate.

Obi, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the declaration while campaigning for the party ahead of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

The former Anambra State governor said he has intensified his consultation ahead of the 2027 polls.

“You see this coming election, support us in AMAC; it will help me. Your support in AMAC is critical to our journey. I am involved and contesting the coming election as number one. When I come back, you will see. I assure you,” he said.

Obi's comment will spook the base in the ADC as the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar is also lacing his boots to contest in the primaries.

His supporters, including members of the Obidient Movement, have been urging the leadership of the ADC to present Obi as the party’s presidential candidate. Many of them have openly insisted on an “Obi or nothing” position.

The stance, however, prompted the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, to caution supporters against inflammatory rhetoric, urging them to prioritise party unity.

There have also been speculations that some political leaders are working towards presenting an Obi–Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso presidential ticket on the platform of the ADC with an alternative plan being to adopt another party should the pairing fail to dislodge former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is considered the favourite for the ADC ticket.

Kwankwaso’s refusal to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been interpreted by some political observers as lending weight to the speculation of an emerging Obi–Kwankwaso alliance.

At the same time, supporters of Atiku have renewed calls on Obi and his followers to consider accepting a vice-presidential slot, similar to the arrangement reached in 2019.