Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has defiantly declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, asserting that no amount of political maneuvering or suppression will stop him from being on the ballot.
Speaking at the Obidient Conference and official declaration for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Obi addressed his supporters with a message of resilience, stating that he is prepared to run regardless of the location or conditions set by the electoral umpire.
In a direct challenge to the political establishment and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Obi emphasized his determination to see the process through to a logical conclusion.
“I want to assure you that I will contest the coming election even if it is held in their bedroom, and if they don’t want to transmit the results, we will transmit them for them,” Obi declared to a cheering crowd.
For the first time, Obi offered a candid explanation regarding his departure from the Labour Party (LP), the platform under which he ran a historic campaign in 2023.
He revealed that his exit was necessitated by intelligence suggesting a deliberate attempt to stifle his candidacy through bureaucratic bottlenecks.
“I left LP when I got informed that as long as I remain in the party, INEC will not recognise its leadership, that the federal government doesn’t want me on the ballot,” he explained.
Beyond politics, Obi criticized the economic direction of the current administration, particularly its borrowing habits.
He warned that the mounting debt profile is burdening future generations with liabilities incurred by leaders who will not be around to repay them.
“The current administration has collected more loans than every other administration, and most of these loans will be repaid from 2045 to 2050 when most of the people who plunged the country into this indebtedness are no more,” he lamented.
Promising a shift in governance style if elected, Obi cited his record in Anambra State, where he claimed to have eschewed the perks of office, such as the Office of the First Lady and personal land allocations, in favor of public service.
The event also saw speeches from key figures in the Obidient Movement, including its global coordinator, Tanko Yunusa, and the Akwa Ibom State coordinator, Ben Smith.
Both leaders urged supporters to mobilize massively for the ADC ahead of 2027, describing the upcoming election as a generational battle for jobs, security, and dignity.
Obi’s declaration effectively sets the stage for a new political alignment as opposition forces begin to consolidate ahead of the next general election cycle.
