Aisha Yesufu, a prominent political activist and staunch ally of 2027 presidential hopeful Peter Obi, has laid out a key condition before her preferred candidate can consider joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC)—the newly adopted platform of a major opposition coalition.
This comes in response to the coalition’s recent directive urging all members and supporters to resign from their current political parties and align with the ADC ahead of the 2027 general elections. The directive was issued following a leadership meeting held in Abuja.
While Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate under the Labour Party (LP), was present at the coalition’s endorsement of the ADC, he has not yet resigned from his current party—raising questions about his next political move.
Yesufu: Zoning Must Be Resolved First
Aisha Yesufu made it clear that Peter Obi will not consider leaving the Labour Party unless the coalition and the ADC formally zone the presidential ticket to the South.
“Before Peter Obi can resign from the Labour Party, the ADC must first address the issue of zoning. The presidency must be zoned to the South,” Yesufu stated.
She compared the principle of zoning to Nigeria’s federal character system, arguing that it is necessary to maintain political balance and fairness in a multi-ethnic federation like Nigeria.
Speculations Around Atiku and PDP
There is growing speculation that the ADC ticket may be handed to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is also a key player in the opposition coalition. This has fueled concerns among Obi’s supporters, especially as reports suggest Obi may be considering a return to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)—which has reportedly zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South.
Mixed Reactions from Nigerians
Yesufu’s statement has triggered a wave of responses from political observers and ordinary Nigerians, with opinions sharply divided:
Dos Santos criticized Yesufu’s stance, recalling past statements where she had opposed zoning and federal character:
“Madam, stand in one place. These were your tweets in 2015 and 2016 advocating against zoning and the quota system.”
Bashir Garba Sufyan questioned the value of zoning:
“Since 1999, what real benefits has zoning brought? A southerner is President now—what difference has that made? Either commit fully to the coalition or move to the APC, where the incumbent may likely get the ticket again.”
Danjuma Sale, however, backed Yesufu’s argument:
“I agree 100%. Any attempt to disrupt the North/South rotation will destroy the coalition. The North just exited power two years ago, and now Atiku wants to run again?”
Michael Adewuyi pointed to inconsistencies:
“Why didn’t you raise this during the Edo elections? That caused an avoidable division within the Obidient movement.”
Carlo Gambino criticized what he called entitlement:
“It’s embarrassing how some people are threatening others for not backing Obi outright. Primary elections are democratic—stop acting like you own the ticket.”
ADC Issues Directive to Coalition Members
Meanwhile, the ADC leadership, under the coalition’s umbrella, has formally instructed members such as Peter Obi and Nasir El-Rufai to resign from their current parties and officially join the ADC.
Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesperson for the coalition, confirmed the development after a high-level meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, September 25.
According to Abdullahi, the coalition has also abandoned plans to sustain the registration of the African Democratic Alliance (ADA), focusing instead on building the ADC into a formidable opposition force ahead of the 2027 elections.
