Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has called on opposition parties to establish clear terms, shared principles, and well-defined agreements as they prepare for the 2027 general elections.
Obi made the call in a video interview sighted by InfoStride News on Thursday, stressing that issues such as the rotation of political offices and informal power-sharing arrangements must be properly documented to prevent future disputes.
While expressing support for the African Democratic Congress, ADC-led coalition, Obi said the coalition must earn the trust of Nigerians through transparency and a unified vision.
According to him, opposition leaders are not new to politics, and therefore must present fresh, convincing ideas capable of restoring public confidence.
Obi noted that experienced figures within the coalition—such as former Senate President David Mark and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar—possess the political depth needed to guide the alliance. However, he insisted that internal clarity, organisation and shared commitments remain crucial.
He said opposition parties must articulate a concrete plan for Nigerians rather than merely seeking to replace the current administration.
Obi stated:
“Today, I’m a member of the Labour Party, and I subscribe to the coalition, ADC Coalition for the 2027 election. I believe in it. But as much as I believe in it, I need to know the fundamentals that we all agree to respect. What are we going to do for the average Nigerian person? Because we are not different people… we’re still part of the political class.
“Yes, I respect all those who are leaders there. Our Chairman, David Mark… and people like my own leader, Atiku, somebody for whom I have all my respect… But in all this, there are still some fine lines that we need to respect, where things must be done properly, where we must sit down and talk about where we’re driving the country to.”
He said opposition parties must offer Nigerians a credible alternative anchored on “competence, character, capacity, commitment and compassion.”
Obi warned against repeating past mistakes, noting that leadership transitions must be backed by a clear plan.
“We can’t just say, ‘We don’t like what these people are doing; let them go.’ If they go, what is the alternative? We’ve done that in 2015… So we now have to be clear. What are we getting? Can we trust those who are going to drive this vehicle?”
Obi also stressed the need to formalise long-standing informal agreements on zoning and rotation to avoid future confusion.
“Today, we have what we can call unsigned agreements about the presidency, about rotation of offices… All these things need to be organised,” he said.
The former Anambra governor reiterated that his priority is not personal ambition but national progress.
“I am not desperate to become president of Nigeria. I’m desperate to see Nigeria work,” he said.
Obi added that if Nigerians collectively desire change, opposition parties can achieve it—regardless of how much time remains before the 2027 elections.
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