Former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu, has issued a strong warning to Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 standard-bearer, urging him not to accept a running mate offer from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 general election. Kachikwu made the statement during a press conference held in Abuja, where he criticized any potential alliance between the two politicians as unjust and politically damaging to Nigeria’s power rotation principles.
According to Kachikwu, it would be morally and politically wrong for any major party’s presidential candidate in 2027 not to emerge from the South, given the recent history of leadership in the country. He argued that after eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration from the North, the South deserves a continued opportunity to lead, reinforcing the importance of maintaining national balance and unity through equitable zoning. He further accused certain northern politicians of conspiring to dominate the political landscape once again, despite public discontent.
Kachikwu alleged that some of these political actors have been openly boasting about plans to unseat President Bola Tinubu, but without offering any concrete ideas or policy alternatives for addressing the country’s pressing challenges. He expressed frustration that opposition elements focus solely on attacking Tinubu without presenting clear solutions for critical sectors like the economy, healthcare, or infrastructure. Referring to the recent death of a former Nigerian president abroad, he questioned why opposition figures have remained silent on the decay of the healthcare system and what they would do differently.
The ADC leader also raised concerns over what he described as a coordinated attempt to weaken Peter Obi’s political resolve by convincing him he cannot win a presidential race on his own. He claimed that certain individuals are strategically positioned around Obi to pressure him into accepting a vice-presidential role under Atiku. Kachikwu condemned this narrative, urging Obi not to succumb to such influence. He argued that Obi has the capacity, intelligence, and national appeal to run a successful presidential campaign independently and should not allow himself to be relegated to a supporting role.
Citing his personal experience, Kachikwu noted that he too had been told he was unqualified to contest for the presidency simply because he is Igbo. He dismissed such sentiments as discriminatory and unfounded, stating that every Nigerian who fulfills civic obligations like paying taxes should have the right to aspire to the highest office. He called on Obi and other southern politicians to unite around a cause grounded in fairness and justice, emphasizing that any political movement seeking to unseat Tinubu must be led from the South and uphold the values of equity.
In addition, Kachikwu revealed that some individuals have attempted to hijack the ADC party structure through monetary inducements, offering state chairmen as much as ₦20 million to vacate their positions. He described these moves as unethical and warned that such attempts violate the party’s constitution, which does not permit external actors to assume internal leadership roles through such means. He specifically accused Atiku Abubakar of being behind the alleged plot, citing previous instances in which Atiku had reportedly disrupted internal party dynamics for personal ambition. Kachikwu claimed that Atiku almost derailed President Olusegun Obasanjo’s second term and similarly undermined Goodluck Jonathan’s presidency.
Challenging Atiku directly, Kachikwu called on the former vice president to publicly declare that fairness demands the presidency remain in the South for another six years and support any southern candidate if he truly believes in national unity. He expressed doubt that Atiku would ever make such a statement, suggesting that his political ambitions are driven more by personal interest than collective progress. Kachikwu concluded by reaffirming that the ADC is not up for sale and should not serve as a political dumping ground for those who abandon their parties during crises. He urged other politicians to build their parties just as he has stayed to strengthen the ADC.