• Ohanaeze denies urging Obi to withdraw from race
The National Media Frontiers of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly condemned recent comments made by former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, in which he claimed that “information shows that the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in 2023, Peter Obi, may return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”
In a statement signed by the Director-General of the ADC National Media Frontiers, Ismail Haruna Owal, the group described Sheriff’s remarks as not only speculative and baseless but also a deliberate attempt to distract Nigerians from the growing appeal of alternative political voices that represent real hope for the nation.
The statement reads: “Mr Sheriff’s comments lack credibility and reflect the desperation of a political elite unsettled by a clear shift in public consciousness toward accountability, transparency, and people-centred governance.
“Mr Peter Obi, as a respected national figure, has consistently expressed commitment to a new political order that prioritises the will of the Nigerian people. Suggesting that he may return to a party he deliberately left for ideological reasons is not only misleading but an insult to the intelligence of millions of Nigerians who believe in a different future for this country.”
The group further urged Sheriff and others who feel threatened by Nigeria’s democratic awakening to refrain from spreading propaganda and political misinformation. It called for a shift toward issue-based discourse that genuinely serves the interests of the Nigerian people, rather than manipulating narratives to sustain outdated political agendas.
Meanwhile, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has dismissed reports claiming it advised Obi to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race.
The group also refuted allegations that it urged Northern leaders not to support Obi’s presidential ambition.
In a statement issued yesterday, its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Ezechi Chukwu, Ohanaeze described the claims as acts of mischief by “street urchins”.
The statement said: “Ohanaeze has been alerted to a misleading report circulating on social media alleging that the apex Igbo body warned Obi against contesting the 2027 presidential election.
“It also claimed that Ohanaeze cautioned the North against backing his candidacy. We wish to categorically state that such a mischief-driven and misleading statement did not emanate from the dignified apex Igbo body.”
He emphasised that Ohanaeze Ndigbo, under the leadership of credible figures such as John Azuta Mbata (President-General), Prince Okey Nwadinobi (Deputy President-General), and Emeka Sibeudu (Secretary-General), could not have issued such an “ignominious” statement.
