Yunusa Tanko, former spokesperson for Peter Obi’s presidential campaign and current Director-General of the Obidient Movement, has affirmed that the former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, will run for the 2027 presidential election — regardless of whether he emerges as the candidate of the newly formed opposition coalition.
Tanko made this statement on Monday in Abuja during the second Annual Colloquium held in honour of Associate Professor Abdulmumin Ajia.
“Obi has already stated that he will contest in 2027, whether we get the coalition ticket or not, so we are not even contemplating whether or not he will run. But when we get to that level, the platform will be revealed,” Tanko declared.
The comment comes amid increasing tension within the opposition coalition, which recently adopted the African Democratic Congress, ADC, as its official political platform for the 2027 elections. Internal disagreements have reportedly emerged within the group, especially concerning the zoning of the party’s presidential ticket.
Tanko, representing Obi at the event, urged the coalition leaders to ensure that the presidential ticket is zoned to the South, citing national unity and fairness.
“Why should we have a northerner again when we can easily allow the South to complete their tenure to promote unity and cohesiveness? Afterwards, our northern brothers can take up their eight years,” he said.
He also cautioned against repeating past political errors, referencing the annulment of Moshood Abiola’s 1993 presidential election victory, and stressed that the governor of Anambra State remains the best candidate to lead Nigeria forward.
Tanko described Obi as “a committed and capable leader who possesses the competence to transform the nation” and urged members of the coalition to rally behind him in order to avoid “another political blunder.”
Speaking at the event, Associate Professor Abdulmumin Ajia praised the ADC as “a credible and independent platform with the potential to reshape Nigeria’s political landscape.”
“It is only a strong opposition, free from the direct and indirect influence of the ruling party, that can rescue Nigeria from what can best be described as the irony of a collapsing rich nation,” Ajia stated.
The 2027 presidential race is expected to attract several influential politicians within the coalition, including Peter Obi, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi.
