Recent developments in Nigeria’s political landscape point to a clear reality: Peter Obi remains the primary target of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the country moves toward the 2027 general election. The prevailing narrative suggests a deliberate strategy to weaken Obi politically by rendering him effectively partyless.
The crisis within the Labour Party, which escalated after Obi’s exit on December 31, 2025, is widely seen as part of this broader plan. After months of ignoring an April 2025 Supreme Court ruling, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) abruptly changed course. On January 21, 2026, an Abuja court relied on the same ruling to affirm Dr. Nenadi Usman’s caretaker committee and declare Julius Abure’s tenure expired. Critics argue this sequence exposes coordination between INEC and the judiciary aimed at frustrating Obi’s political future.
The APC’s posture toward Obi has clearly shifted. Once dismissed as a “social media candidate,” he is now treated as a serious threat whose support base must be dismantled ahead of 2027. Obi’s continued criticism of government policies, security failures, and economic mismanagement has elevated him into what many describe as a “shadow president,” intensifying ruling party anxiety.
Obi’s political history reflects repeated resistance from entrenched interests. From the PDP to APGA and back again, his reformist stance consistently clashed with established power blocs. His 2023 Labour Party campaign, widely regarded as transformative, further entrenched his relevance despite official results placing him third.
Now in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Obi faces renewed attempts to destabilize his platform. Yet the ruling party remains uneasy, aware that a united opposition could turn 2027 into a referendum on its record, with Obi as the symbol of political renewal.
