Former chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Barrister John Nwobodo, has advised Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, to completely shelve his 2027 presidential ambition rather than accept a vice-presidential ticket under a northern candidate.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP in Enugu, Nwobodo, who was also the governorship candidate of the Accord Party in Enugu State, argued that such a move would not be politically strategic for Obi.
“I do not think it makes political sense for Obi to deputise a northern candidate in 2027. Instead of doing that, he should simply step aside,” Nwobodo stated.
He acknowledged Obi’s significant influence on Nigeria’s political landscape and dismissed the idea that the former Anambra governor was a desperate politician willing to take any position just to remain relevant.
“Obi has undoubtedly made an impact in Nigeria’s politics. I don’t believe he is the kind of politician who would run for office at all costs,” he added.
Nwobodo also cautioned that defeating the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election would require extraordinary efforts due to the party’s deep-rooted influence across the country.
“APC is well entrenched in terms of membership, spread, and its stronghold on high-net-worth individuals in the country. It will take an exceptional strategy to unseat them,” he said.
He argued that Nigeria’s leadership crisis is not about party labels but rather a lack of patriotism and a negative political mindset, where many politicians see governance as a means of accumulating power and wealth.
On how the opposition could stand a chance against APC, Nwobodo suggested that only a coalition of political parties, along with strong grassroots mobilization, could present a formidable challenge in 2027.
“The only opposition that can take power from APC is one that introduces fresh faces, promoted by a broad coalition of political parties and a well-organized citizen movement. Any arrangement that recycles old politicians is bound to fail,” he concluded.
