2027 presidency: Obidients again Obi as Datti eyes LP ticket

The Obidient Motion has insisted that the 2027 presidency ought to stay within the South, declaring that former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is finest positioned to finish what it described because the area’s “remaining time period.”

The Nationwide Coordinator of the Obidient Motion Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, made the place recognized in an unique interview with The PidomNigeria, amid rising political realignments forward of the 2027 common election.

Tanko’s declaration comes on the identical day Obi’s operating mate within the 2023 election, Datti Baba-Ahmed declared for the 2027 presidency at a rally held on the Labour Party’s nationwide secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday.

Baba-Ahmed’s announcement comes barely one week after Obi introduced his departure from the Labour Party for the African Democratic Congress.

This transfer has triggered intense debate over the get together’s future and the course of the broader opposition forward of the following common election.

On Wednesday, Baba-Ahmed flanked by the embattled LP Nationwide Chairman, Julius Abure, stated his aspiration was neither reactionary nor depending on Obi’s political choices, stressing that his presidential ambition predates the 2023 election.

Baba-Ahmed a northern Muslim downplayed faith and ethnicity, insisting that Nigeria’s structure ensures each certified citizen the fitting to hunt elective workplace.

Nonetheless, Tanko, a detailed ally of Obi, whereas talking with The PidomNigeria, stated the Obidient Motion was uninterested in being drawn into discussions suggesting that Obi ought to step apart or defer his ambition, stressing that the Obidients’ stance was rooted in democratic ideas and fairness.

“We’re democrats. We consider it’s the flip of the South and Obi will full the remaining time period of the South. That’s our place,” he acknowledged.

Tanko’s remarks come as opposition politics enters a tense section, with a number of heavyweight contenders brazenly jostling for the ADC presidential ticket, elevating questions on consensus, zoning and inside cohesion throughout the rising opposition bloc.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had on Tuesday vowed to not withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, dismissing requires him to step down as harmful to Nigeria’s democracy.

Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party within the 2023 election and is now searching for the ADC ticket, made the declaration in a press release signed by his media aide, Paul Ibe, on Tuesday.

In the meantime, at his formal declaration in Abuja on Wednesday, Datti-Baba reminded get together members and supporters that his presidential ambition predated 2023 when he accepted to be Obi’s operating mate.

He stated, “I’ve made myself to contest for the workplace in 2027. I’m not following anyone’s trajectory or getting into anyone’s sneakers. Can I please remind you that earlier than His Excellency Governor Peter Obi filed for the presidency, I aspired for the presidency earlier than him? The data are there so that you can see.”

The previous lawmaker recalled his earlier try and safe his get together’s presidential ticket, noting that he had contested within the Peoples Democratic Party primaries years earlier than aligning with Obi within the Labour Party.

“In October 2018, I participated within the primaries of the then PDP in Port Harcourt and walked to Obi for his vote and he smiled at me. What a gentleman he was.

“If you happen to heard me properly in what I simply submitted, I noticed a uncommon alternative for nationwide unity to have elected Peter Obi in 2023. And that’s the reason I made a decision to movement with it.”

Baba-Ahmed additionally addressed considerations about faith and ethnicity, insisting that Nigeria’s structure ensures each certified citizen the fitting to hunt elective workplace.

“Sure, I’m a practising Muslim. However I’m a Nigerian and the structure permits me to contest. You requested about my ethnicity. Sure, I’m an Hausa man and Nigerian structure additionally permits me to contest. I’m doing this as a result of Nigeria wants assist.”

Nonetheless, Baba-Ahmed famous that whereas he had made his intention recognized, he would adhere strictly to get together and electoral pointers.

“As a law-abiding citizen and a loyal get together member, till the timetable is launched by INEC and the management of the Labour Party requires aspirants, I cannot say something about it. However bear in mind I informed you that Nigerians know the reality,” he acknowledged.

Reacting, the Nationwide Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, counseled Baba-Ahmed for remaining within the get together regardless of speculations that he may defect following Obi’s exit.

Abure stated the event demonstrated that the Labour Party remained intact, including that a number of key figures, together with the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, had additionally chosen to remain again.

He stated, “Solely just lately, the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, informed the world that he joined the get together earlier than Peter Obi did – that is true. Otti additionally stated he was not going to defect with Peter Obi.

“On the night time Peter Obi defected, I obtained a phone name from our vice-presidential candidate within the 2023 elections, Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed. He stated he isn’t leaving the get together as a result of it was the platform upon which he, together with the previous candidate, obtained 10 million votes from Nigerians, which was diminished to six million votes. Everyone knows what occurred.”

Abure additional disclosed that Baba-Ahmed personally prompt a gathering of get together leaders and members to reaffirm unity throughout the get together.

“The truth is, he requested me to organise an occasion the place members can come collectively. He first prompt that we meet on the Transcorp Hilton Lodge with a couple of senior members that he would foot the invoice.

“However I prompt that we maintain the occasion right here on the get together secretariat and invite our members, artisans and peculiar folks, who really personal the get together, and he agreed. That’s the reason we’re having this gathering right here at the moment.

“The Labour Party is undamaged, we won’t let Nigerians down. We are going to stay collectively and supply a real different for Nigerians.”

Baba-Ahmed’s declaration has added a contemporary dimension to the rising 2027 presidential contest, as events start early positioning amid shifting alliances throughout the opposition.