Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has said the 2027 general elections may be his final shot at the presidency.
Obi, who confirmed he would contest in 2027 on the LP’s platform, hinted at a possible exit from active politics after that.
He spoke in a seven-minute, 16-second video clip that went viral on the party’s WhatsApp platform during an informal address to young Nigerians.
The former Anambra State governor noted that he would be 65 in 2027 and might not be willing to pursue public office beyond that age.
“I believe we should have a retirement age for politicians. By 2027, I will be 65. If the presidency goes back to the North in 2031, it may not return to the South until 2039 — by then, I will be 77. I wouldn’t want to run for office at that age. It would make a mess of everything,” he said.
Despite suggesting that he may not return to the ballot beyond 2027, Obi assured his audience of continued support for young Nigerians who are serious about national transformation.
“Even if I’m not contesting, I will always support those of you who are committed to real change, with whatever resources I can provide,” he stated.
Although Sunday PUNCH could not verify when the video was recorded, Obi’s media aide, Umar Ibrahim, confirmed it was recent.
“It’s a recent video, around last week, yes. But I can’t remember the exact day that it held,” Ibrahim said.
Addressing internal crises in opposition parties, Obi blamed the ruling government for fuelling the turmoil in both the LP and Peoples Democratic Party.
“What is happening in the Labour Party and the PDP is caused by the government. Quote me anywhere,” he declared, adding that interference in party affairs was a calculated effort to weaken the opposition.
He recalled how former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua once intervened in a similar situation to ensure internal stability within political parties.
Obi said, “Back then, I went to President Yar’Adua. He called the INEC Chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu, and said he didn’t want any issues in any political party. The problems were fixed. But today, every party is facing one crisis or another — and it is deliberate.”
He stated Nigeria’s democracy couldn’t thrive without strong opposition parties, expressing his determination to fix such structural challenges if elected.
The former Anambra governor also urged Nigerians to take personal responsibility for defending the integrity of their votes, warning that any meaningful reform would be met with resistance from those benefitting from the current system.