Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has denied opposing the idea of forming a coalition to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Initially, Obi had rejected efforts by other opposition leaders to form a coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections, stating he would not endorse any coalition if the motive was solely to grab power.
Speaking at a two-day national conference in Abuja on January 27, 2025, the former Governor of Anambra said he was “not interested in any coalition to take power.” However, on January 28, 2025, Obi took to X to clarify his position on the coalition efforts led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other opposition leaders.
Obi wrote, “I have observed that my honest interview yesterday was misquoted by many media outlets, creating a false narrative that misrepresents my position. Let me set the record straight. I am not against coalition. In truth, I am for it, not for a power grab but to position Nigeria for greatness. I have not, and will never advocate for any coalition or alliance that does not prioritise the welfare and progress of the ordinary Nigerian.”
He emphasized that any discussion about governance must focus on addressing critical issues such as access to quality healthcare and education and pulling people out of poverty. Obi criticized past coalitions formed solely for the purpose of taking power, stating that such endeavors, devoid of genuine purpose and vision, have only deepened Nigeria’s challenges and left ordinary citizens to bear the brunt of bad governance.
“Leadership must be about service, not self-interest. As I have always maintained, the New Nigeria is possible. But it requires us to change the way we think about power. It is not about grabbing it; it is about using it responsibly to transform lives and secure a brighter future for generations to come,” Obi concluded.
AT Reporter