By Our Correspondents
The Media Office of Peter Obi has raised the alarm over what it described as a clandestine scheme orchestrated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling party to deny Obi a platform to contest the upcoming 2027 presidential election.
In a press statement dated April 3, 2026, and signed by spokesperson Ibrahim Umar, the office alleged that the plot has been in motion since the conclusion of the 2023 election, with the government deliberately injecting crises into Obi’s former party, the Labour Party, to prevent him from securing a foothold for the election.
“The underhanded plan has been in motion since the conclusion of the 2023 election, deliberately injecting crises into Obi’s Labour Party to prevent him from securing a foothold for the election,” the statement read.
According to POMR, despite Obi’s relentless efforts to restore peace within the Labour Party, government infiltrators aided by a compromised judiciary consistently thwarted those attempts.
The statement noted that in April 2025, the Supreme Court delivered a ruling regarding the rightful control of the party. However, POMR alleged that the ruling party cavalierly disregarded the decision, using lower courts to undermine the authority of the Supreme Court.
When credible intelligence indicated that the internal turmoil would persist until Obi was ousted, he made the difficult decision to exit the party on December 31, 2025, to safeguard its future.
The statement claimed that as predicted by the scheme, the courts that had previously ignored the Supreme Court’s ruling suddenly took action on January 7, 2026, dismissing the meddlesome intrusions of Julius Abure and his faction.
After Obi fully aligned with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Coalition and brought renewed vigour to the party, POMR alleged that the ruling party escalated its efforts to sabotage him.
“They pursued bizarre legislative changes that culminated in a detrimental amendment to the Electoral Act, explicitly designed to exert pressure on the ADC and undermine Obi’s presidential ambitions,” the statement said.
POMR noted that Obi’s visit on March 22, 2026, to the former Governor of Kano State and the 2023 presidential candidate of the NNPP, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, where he was warmly welcomed by Kwankwasiyya members, intensified the ruling party’s hostility toward him.
The tipping point, according to the statement, occurred during the ADC’s resounding rally in Kano on March 30, 2027, where Kwankwaso officially joined forces with the ADC.
“In a desperate move, the government manipulated the so-called Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reinterpret an Appeal Court ruling, leading to the delisting of the ADC’s leadership and putting Obi and other aspirants at serious risk of being denied a platform,” POMR alleged.
The Media Office said it was meticulously documenting these developments to inform Nigerians and the international community of what it called an orchestrated manoeuvre to disenfranchise Obi and pave the way for President Tinubu’s uncontested candidacy.
POMR alleged that the government is attempting to create an illusion of democratic choice by propping up surrogates in various political parties while scheming for a one-party system in a nation of over 200 million people.
“For this dictatorial agenda to succeed, it would profoundly disservice to millions of Nigerians—particularly the youth, women, and intellectuals—who desire a transformative vision for Nigeria based on production rather than consumption, curbing waste, and eradicating deep-seated corruption within the system,” the statement said.
The Media Office categorically condemned the trend as a blatant scheme to undermine democracy, establish dictatorship, and continue exploiting the nation’s resources through corrupt practices.
“We emphasise the importance of transparency and integrity in our democratic system. We are dedicated to informing both Nigerians and the global community about these developments, urging a collaborative approach to strengthen our democracy,” the statement added.
POMR called on all stakeholders to uphold the values of democracy, ensuring that Peter Obi has the opportunity to present his vision for Nigeria to the electorate.
“True democracy allows citizens to make informed choices about their leadership,” the statement said. “As we move forward, it is crucial that the voices of the people—especially the youth, women, and intellectuals—are heard and respected.”
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