The anticipated declaration by former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, to contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has heightened expectations of fresh political realignments and defections across the South-East geopolitical zone.
Stakeholders in the region have expressed mixed reactions to the development, warning that unless the ADC is willing to concede its presidential ticket to the South-East, Obi’s ambition could stoke identity politics and bandwagon voter behaviour rather than consolidate opposition strength.
Already, governors of four of the five South-East states Prof. Chukwuma Soludo (Anambra), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Dr Peter Mbah (Enugu), and Hope Uzodimma (Imo), have publicly declared their support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
Attention is now focused on Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, the only South-East governor elected on the Labour Party (LP) platform in 2023. Otti is yet to indicate whether he will align with Obi’s reported move to the ADC, with political observers suggesting that his decision could significantly shape the electoral dynamics of the region.
Nonetheless, there are strong indications that Obi’s formal declaration on the ADC platform could trigger a new wave of defections in the South-East. Checks by The Telegraph reveal that several politicians, particularly those buoyed by the “Obidient” movement during the 2023 general election have been awaiting Obi’s next political move, with many prepared to follow him to a new platform.
Speaking to The Telegraph on the implications of Obi’s expected declaration, former Ebonyi Central Senator, Emmanuel Onwe, described the move as potentially seismic.
“Peter Obi’s 2027 declaration will detonate like an explosive in South-East politics,” Onwe said. “It will force a reckoning between grassroots Obidient fervour and entrenched APC-aligned governors. His move to ADC is less about being lured and more about testing whether his organic support base can be institutionalised.”
He added that even if Obi is denied the ADC presidential ticket, he retains what he termed a “nuclear option” of mobilising support outside formal party structures.
“The South-East electorate is likely to see the ADC as a defiant counterweight to APC collaboration, and Governor Otti’s stance will be interpreted either as betrayal or bold solidarity,” Onwe noted.
According to him, should Otti align with Obi on the ADC platform, he would be celebrated as a courageous ally and further cement his image as a reformist governor. “If he declines, it may be viewed as capitulation to APC power brokers, risking alienation from the Obidient base. Either way, Otti’s decision will be symbolic of whether South-East governors stand with the people or with Abuja,” he said.
Onwe further argued that Obi’s move to the ADC is a calculated decision rather than a political lure, recalling Obi’s disclosure that he had been part of the coalition from its inception. He stressed that the ADC offers a ready-made structure without the internal crises that have plagued the Labour Party.
Obi, who has been linked with several political parties ahead of the 2027 election, confirmed over the weekend that he had left the LP for the ADC. Sources say he intends to seek the party’s presidential ticket for the 2027 contest.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, has dismissed suggestions that the South-East would vote based on sentiment in 2027, insisting that the region will overwhelmingly support President Bola Tinubu and Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru.
Speaking at his country home in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, while receiving political, religious, and community leaders on a Christmas homage, Umahi said the Igbo electorate would prioritise strategy, unity, and constructive engagement over emotional considerations.
“The South-East should not deceive itself about its political choices,” the former Ebonyi State governor said, arguing that President Tinubu has demonstrated commitment to the region through major infrastructure projects.
“You ask me what the President has done for the South-East, and I will tell you what he has done for the region,” Umahi declared.
