Labour Party Rules Out Peter Obi Stepping Down, Challenges Atiku to Back Him in 2027

Labour Party has ruled out Peter Obi stepping down and challenged Atiku to back him in 2027.

 

NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Labour Party (LP) has dismissed speculation that its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, may step down or merge forces with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or any other opposition figure ahead of the 2027 general election.

Speaking in an interview with Punch, the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Tony Akeni, described such reports as “baseless political gossip,” insisting that neither Peter Obi nor the Obidient Movement will back down from their mission to “rescue Nigeria.”

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Akeni said any attempt to pressure Obi to withdraw from the presidential race would amount to betraying the confidence and hope of millions of Nigerians yearning for genuine change.

“Forcing Peter Obi to withdraw from the race is to take away 90 per cent of the hope Nigerians have for redemption and a new beginning,” he stated.

He added that while the LP is open to dialogue with other stakeholders, the party’s focus remains firmly on the presidency.

“There is no substitute for the ideology of the Labour Party. We are going head-on for the presidency if the right decision is not taken by the coalition,” Akeni said, stressing that any discussion on alliances would only happen closer to the party primaries.

The spokesperson also urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to “do the honourable thing” by supporting Peter Obi in 2027, saying it would cement his legacy as a patriot.

“Let Atiku think of what is best for his epitaph,” Akeni said. “Would he like to be remembered as the man who sacrificed Nigeria for his ambition and lost, or the man who sacrificed his ambition for Nigeria and helped the nation find a new path to progress?”