The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has revealed that the 2027 general elections might be his final bid for the presidency.
In a viral seven-minute, 16-second video shared on the party’s WhatsApp platform, Obi confirmed his intention to contest again under the Labour Party but hinted at stepping away from active politics afterward.
Speaking informally to a group of young Nigerians, the former Anambra State governor, who will be 65 by 2027, suggested that age may play a major role in his political future.
“I believe we should have a retirement age for politicians. By 2027, I will be 65. If the presidency returns to the North in 2031, it may not come back to the South until 2039 — by then, I’ll be 77. I wouldn’t want to run for office at that age. It would make a mess of everything,” Obi said.
Despite indicating that 2027 could be his last shot, Obi pledged to continue supporting committed young Nigerians striving for 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 assured.
Although News Review could not independently 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,” he said.
On the crisis rocking opposition parties, Obi pointed fingers at the ruling government, accusing it of deliberately stoking division within the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“What is happening in the Labour Party and the PDP is caused by the government. Quote me anywhere,” he alleged, insisting that the interference is aimed at weakening the opposition.
He recalled how former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua once stepped in to preserve internal party stability. “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,” Obi said.
He warned that democracy cannot thrive without strong opposition parties and urged Nigerians to take ownership of the electoral process, stressing that those benefiting from the current system would resist meaningful reforms.
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