The Labour Party (LP) has dismissed speculations that its former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, plans to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race or step aside for any political coalition or rival aspirant.
Speaking in an interview with Punch, the interim National Publicity Secretary of the party, Tony Akeni, described the reports as baseless, insisting that such a move would crush the hopes of millions of Nigerians yearning for real change.
“Forcing Peter Obi to withdraw from the race is to take away 90 per cent of the hope of Nigerians for redemption and a new beginning,” Akeni stated.
He stressed that the Labour Party remains committed to contesting the presidency in 2027, warning that any attempt to sideline Obi would be met with strong resistance from the party’s supporters nationwide.
Akeni further appealed to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to demonstrate true statesmanship by stepping down for Obi and supporting him as the consensus candidate for the opposition.
“Atiku should prove his love for the country by doing the right thing and giving Peter Obi a chance in 2027,” he said.
“Let Atiku think of what is best for his epitaph. Would he like to be remembered as the man who sacrificed Nigeria for his ambition and didn’t get it, or as the man who sacrificed his ambition for Nigeria and took it from the cliff to the path of modern progress and advancement?”
The LP spokesperson also revealed that a movement known as “AGOBI’27” (Atiku Givus Obi 2027) has emerged among some opposition stakeholders. The initiative, he explained, is aimed at appealing to Atiku’s conscience and persuading him to back Obi’s candidacy as a unifying option for the opposition ahead of the next general elections.
Akeni reiterated that the Labour Party has no intention of merging or compromising its ideology, noting that the party would “go head-on for the presidency” if the proposed coalition fails to make what he called “the right decision at the right time.”
He concluded by reaffirming that Peter Obi remains firmly in the race, emphasizing that the LP will continue to champion the aspirations of Nigerians seeking accountability, equity, and national renewal.
