African Democratic Congress (ADC) has lashed at the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi for clamouring for zoning of the party’s 2027 presidential ticket .

ADC also Obi to make a definitive decision on his involvement with the party rather than giving unnecessary conditions.

The party, while acknowledging Obi as a crucial political leader, emphasised that it would not pressure the former Anambra State governor into joining.

During an interview with ‘Advocacy for Good Governance’ on YouTube on Wednesday, Obi expressed concerns about the stability of the ADC-led coalition, citing unresolved issues, including the zoning arrangement.

Despite these reservations, he reiterated his belief in the coalition’s potential and urged the ADC to resolve these fundamental issues to ensure a credible alliance ahead of the 2027 general elections.

However, the Peter Obi Media Office later denied granting the interview, with his media aide, Ibrahim Umar, asserting that Obi still has confidence in the ADC.

In response to Obi’s remarks, ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi, speaking with Sunday Punch, stressed that the party was not currently focused on the issue of zoning. Abdullahi stated that the ADC’s priority was to prove to Nigerians that it was a credible alternative to the current political establishment.

“We’re not talking about zoning or no zoning right now. Nigerians are still waiting for us to show them what we will do differently. Zoning is not on the table right now. If that’s the condition for Obi to join us, maybe he should wait until that time,” Abdullahi said.

Abdullahi, while acknowledging Obi’s contributions, urged the LP candidate to make a clear decision about his participation in the coalition.

“We understand what Peter has been saying. But I will encourage him to make up his mind if he wants to be part of the coalition or not. The most important thing for us is convincing Nigerians that we represent a credible alternative, regardless of where the candidate comes from,” Abdullahi added.

Abdullahi emphasised that the ADC was keen on having Obi as part of the coalition, stating that the party wanted to build a political force capable of reshaping Nigerian politics and providing a credible alternative for the electorate.

“For us, we want Peter Obi to join us in building a political party that can reset Nigerian politics and provide a credible alternative to Nigerians. When we get to the point of deciding what his priority is, then we’ll make that decision. But if zoning is the condition for his participation, he should probably wait until we get to that point. We encourage him to make up his mind about joining us now,” Abdullahi said.

He refuted Obi’s characterisation of the coalition as “unstable,” arguing that the ADC had been stable and was expanding across the country.

“It’s unfortunate that he used a word like ‘unstable,’ because instability is not tied to our inability to make decisions about zoning at this point. We are stable. Within five months, we have established offices in 27 or 28 states, even without holding a single political office. That’s a major achievement,” he added.

Abdullahi urged Obi to support the ADC’s efforts to grow the party, particularly in his home state of Anambra, similar to what other leaders had done in their respective states.

“We would like to see Peter Obi go to Anambra and support efforts to build the party, like other leaders have done in their respective states. The party will continue to encourage him. We want him to be part of our journey. We want him to help build the party,” Abdullahi added.