The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has formally ruled out the possibility of former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, contesting for the presidency on its platform in 2027, citing constitutional provisions that bar individuals affiliated with other political parties.

Despite Obi’s recent engagements with the ADC and his declared interest in the 2027 general elections, the party emphasized that its constitution strictly permits only registered and card-carrying members to contest under its banner.

According to the ADC’s Third Schedule on Primary Election Guidelines, Article 8 on membership stipulates that any aspirant:

“must not belong to any other political party,” and if previously affiliated with one, must have formally resigned.

This presents a significant barrier for Obi, who remains a prominent member and leader of the Labour Party. His media aide, Tanko Yunusa, confirmed this, saying:

“Well, that will be made public if he decides to do that. At the moment, he is still a member of the Labour Party.”

Atiku, Amaechi Cleared for ADC Presidential Ticket

In contrast, the ADC noted that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi have been cleared by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), having severed ties with their former parties, the PDP and APC respectively.

The ADC reaffirmed its commitment to internal democracy, vowing to ensure a transparent primary election process that will reflect the will of its members and the broader electorate.

“The electoral committee of the party shall conduct primary elections that will produce credible candidates that reflect the choice of the people,” the party stated.

The party also indicated that it retains the flexibility to adopt direct primaries, indirect primaries, or a consensus method, depending on the decision of the NEC.

Summary

This development effectively shuts the door—at least for now—on Obi’s 2027 presidential ambitions via the ADC, unless he formally resigns from the Labour Party and complies with ADC membership requirements.