The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has clarified that Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, remains eligible to contest under its banner in the 2027 elections, dismissing speculation about his exclusion due to his continued membership in LP.
ADC’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, revealed that Obi and former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai were given exemptions to delay formal defections because their supporters are actively contesting elections under ADC and SDP tickets.
In Peter Obi’s Case, his allies are running in Anambra State’s governorship race, El-Rufai’s followers are participating in federal constituency by-elections. “They will fully join after their candidates complete the electoral process,” Abdullahi stated.
The LP’s Nenadi Usman-led faction maintained that Obi remains a bona fide member, with his ADC affiliation being a personal political decision. At a recent NEC meeting, the party reiterated that Obi has not formally resigned and retains the freedom to adjust his strategy ahead of 2027.
Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) affirmed his LP membership but hinted at future deliberations, stating that “for now, he is in LP. When we get to the bridge, we’ll cross it.”
The development highlights Nigeria’s evolving opposition dynamics as key figures explore coalition-building ahead of the next general elections.
Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.
Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.
He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.
Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).
He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.
He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.
Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.
