OHANAEZE NDIGBO PRESS RELEASE- 5th May 2026
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, in a forthright and unequivocal message, appeals with utmost seriousness to former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, to reconsider his decision to contest the 2027 presidential election against the incumbent, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Ohanaeze Ndigbo observes, without equivocation, that Mr. Obi’s defection to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lacks the structural robustness necessary to secure electoral victory in 2027. The ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), remains politically formidable, and any miscalculation risks not only Mr. Obi’s personal ambition but also the collective interests of Ndigbo.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo stresses that Mr. Obi’s apparent personal aspiration to the presidency has already weakened the opposition coalition, fracturing its capacity to present a unified and decisive front. His resignation from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the NDC threatens to divide opposition votes, particularly between Mr. Obi and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is widely expected to contest under the ADC banner. This division, if unresolved, could effectively pave the way for President Tinubu’s victory, further consolidating APC dominance and diminishing opposition leverage.
The organization further highlights the profound political and socio-economic consequences for Ndigbo should Mr. Obi suffer defeat in 2027:
- Igbo investments in Lagos and Abuja, which have been nurtured over decades, could face increased insecurity and uncertainty.
- The long-standing aspiration for the creation of an additional South-East state could be stalled indefinitely.
- Ongoing federal infrastructure projects and favorable economic policies in the South-East may experience serious disruption.
- Future political representation for Ndigbo, including the prospects of an Igbo vice president in 2031 and a Nigerian president in 2035, may be jeopardized.
- Most critically, Ndigbo risks losing political relevance on the national stage, repeating historical patterns of marginalization and exclusion.
In light of these realities, Ohanaeze Ndigbo urges Mr. Peter Obi to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race and lend support to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, thereby safeguarding the political, economic, and developmental interests of Ndigbo. This appeal is neither rhetorical nor negotiable—it is a clarion call to prioritize collective Igbo interests over personal ambition and to avert a political outcome that history may judge harshly.
Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro
Deputy President General
Ohanaeze Ndigbo
Chief Thompson Ohia
National Spokesman
Ohanaeze Ndigbo
