Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has dismissed speculations of a potential coalition with other opposition leaders to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election, stating that his only priority is a “coalition” against hunger, poverty, and the poor state of healthcare and education in Nigeria. Speaking during a visit to the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Kubwa in Abuja on Monday, Obi emphasized that he is not driven by personal ambition.
“The only coalition I am interested in is the one against hunger, poverty, and the bad state of healthcare and education in the country. I am not desperate for any position,” Obi declared. He rejected claims of an agreement to run as a vice-presidential candidate in 2027, calling such speculations “politics of selfish ambitions” that hinder Nigeria’s progress.
Obi, who placed third in the 2023 election behind Tinubu and PDP’s Atiku Abubakar, is seen by some as a key figure in a potential opposition alliance to unseat Tinubu. However, he redirected attention to pressing national issues, noting the government’s failure to provide free, quality education, which has burdened churches with educational responsibilities. During the visit, Obi made a financial donation to a school project in the diocese.
Addressing his recent encounter with Tinubu and former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi at the Vatican during Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration Mass on Sunday, Obi clarified that their exchange was a matter of protocol, not enmity. “I am not an enemy of the President,” he said, adding that his true adversaries are “corruption and corrupt leaders” who exacerbate Nigerians’ hardships.
Obi’s remarks underscore his commitment to addressing systemic challenges over political maneuvering as the 2027 election looms.
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