The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has shut down rumours claiming former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is ineligible to contest for the party’s 2027 presidential ticket.
Speaking on Monday, the interim National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said Obi remains a key figure in the opposition coalition and enjoys a “special concession” that allows him to retain his LP membership for now.
There had been speculation that Obi would be barred from the ADC primary race unless he formally dumped the LP, especially after big names like Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi resigned from their former parties to align with the coalition.
But Abdullahi dismissed the claims, explaining that the concession was a strategic decision.
According to him, the ADC allowed Obi to remain in the LP because many of his loyalists are contesting the upcoming Anambra governorship election on the LP platform.
A similar waiver was extended to former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai, who is backing candidates contesting federal constituency bye-elections under the SDP.
“The understanding is that since their followers secured tickets in LP and SDP, they stay back until the processes are completed. They will join fully after the elections,” Abdullahi added.
Native Reporters