The Media Office of Peter Obi, former Labour Party presidential candidate and an aspirant for the 2027 election, has accused President Bola Ahmad Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating a “sinister scheme” aimed at denying him a platform in the upcoming poll.
In a statement released on Friday by Ibrahim Umar, spokesperson for Obi, the team warned both Nigerians and the international community of the alleged plot, describing it as “a huge threat to democracy.”
According to the Media Office, the strategy has been in motion since the conclusion of the 2023 elections, manifesting in deliberate internal crises within the Labour Party to prevent Obi from establishing a strong footing.
The Office alleged that government operatives, aided by a “compromised judiciary,” have consistently undermined efforts to restore peace within the party. They recalled the April 2025 Supreme Court ruling on the rightful control of the Labour Party, which, they claim, was deliberately ignored by the ruling party. “When credible intelligence indicated that internal turmoil would persist until Obi was ousted, he made the difficult decision to exit the party to safeguard its future,” the statement read.
Following his departure from the Labour Party on December 31, 2025, the Media Office said courts that had previously disregarded the Supreme Court’s judgment suddenly acted in January 2026 to dismiss “meddlesome intrusions” from rival factions. Obi subsequently joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Coalition, bringing renewed energy to the party, a move the Media Office says triggered intensified attempts by the ruling party to sabotage his presidential ambitions.
The statement highlighted legislative changes, particularly an amendment to the Electoral Act, as deliberate attempts to pressure the ADC and undermine Obi. Tensions escalated after Obi’s visit on March 22, 2026, to former Kano State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the NNPP, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, where he was welcomed by Kwankwasiyya members.
The Media Office said the “tipping point” came during the ADC’s large rally in Kano on March 30, 2027, when Kwankwaso officially joined the party. The statement accused the government of manipulating the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reinterpret an Appeal Court ruling, leading to the delisting of ADC leadership and allegedly putting Obi and other aspirants at risk of being denied a platform.
Obi’s team described the manoeuvre as an attempt to “create an illusion of democratic choice” by supporting surrogates in various political parties while pursuing “a one-party system in a nation of over 200 million people.” They warned that such actions, if successful, would undermine the aspirations of millions of Nigerians, particularly youth, women, and intellectuals, who seek a “transformative vision for Nigeria based on production rather than consumption and the eradication of corruption.”
The Media Office categorically condemned the alleged plan as a “blatant scheme to undermine democracy” and called for transparency, integrity, and respect for democratic values. It urged all stakeholders to ensure that Obi is allowed to present his vision for Nigeria to the electorate. “Together, we can build a brighter future. A NEW IS POSSIBLE,” the statement concluded.