Fayose: ADC needs Peter Obi to survive 2027 election
Former Ekiti Governor Ayodele Fayose stated that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will lose the 2027 presidential election if Peter Obi is not its candidate. Speaking at the PDP national convention in Abuja on Sunday, March 29, 2026, Fayose assessed President Bola Tinubu's performance, saying, "when you relate our past with our present, he is not doing well," while giving qualified approval.
Fayose declared Obi's participation is ADC's only path to relevance: "if Obi is not on the ballot of ADC, that is the end of ADC." He then cast doubt on Obi joining ADC, predicting former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will secure the party's presidential ticket instead. Fayose also deemed it "impossible" for Obi to return to the Labour Party, calling Obi "a fantastic guy" but saying presidential victory is unlikely for him.
Additionally, Fayose affirmed Governor Nyesom Wike's position as PDP National Leader, stating, "he leads, we follow," signaling party unity behind the Rivers State governor.
Fayose's analysis presents a stark calculus for Nigeria's opposition: ADC's viability in 2027 hinges entirely on securing Peter Obi. If Atiku, as predicted, takes the ADC ticket without Obi, the party faces irrelevance. This suggests the opposition's fate may depend on which of these two major figures—Obi or Atiku—controls the ADC's presidential slot. How will other opposition parties (PDP, LP, NNPP) react if ADC merges with Atiku versus if it brings in Obi?