Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti State, has warned that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) risks slipping into political irrelevance if it does not present Peter Obi as its presidential candidate in the 2027 general election.
Fayose made the remark in an interview excerpt scheduled to air on Arise Television on Tuesday, where he described Obi, a former Anambra State governor, as the key figure giving the ADC national relevance.
According to Fayose, Obi remains the only politician within the party with the capacity to attract widespread electoral support across the country, adding that other members of the ADC lack similar influence.
He pointed to the 2023 general elections as evidence of Obi’s political weight, noting that Obi’s candidacy on the Labour Party platform helped the party secure unexpected victories in House of Representatives elections.
The former governor said Obi’s appeal cuts across party lines and argued that he would still command significant support even if he contested on the platform of a relatively unknown party.
While clarifying that he was not predicting the outcome of the 2027 presidential election, Fayose cautioned that the ADC’s fortunes would worsen if it failed to field Obi as its candidate.
“Peter Obi is the life of the ADC,” Fayose said. “Others may be there, but they are largely spent forces. Obi is the traction and the factor that gives the party meaning.”
He added that Obi’s move to the Labour Party in 2023 transformed the party’s visibility and electoral success, insisting that a similar impact would be seen in any party Obi chooses to contest under.
Fayose concluded that the ADC would struggle more than it currently does if it goes into the 2027 election without Obi as its presidential candidate.
