The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has indicated that the 2027 general elections might be his final attempt at the presidency.
In a seven-minute, 16-second video that recently went viral on the party’s WhatsApp platform, Obi confirmed his intention to run again on the Labour Party ticket in 2027. However, he hinted that this could mark the end of his active political career.
Speaking informally to a group of young Nigerians, the former Anambra State governor explained that age is a key factor in his decision.
“I believe politicians should have a retirement age. By 2027, I’ll be 65. If the presidency rotates back to the North in 2031, it might not return to the South until 2039 — by then, I’ll be 77. I don’t want to run at that age; it would only make a mess of things,” he said.
While suggesting he may not contest elections beyond 2027, Obi pledged to continue supporting committed young Nigerians who are passionate about genuine change.
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“Even if I’m not running, I will always stand with those of you who are serious about transforming this country — I’ll support you with whatever resources I can,” he assured.
Grassroots Parrot could not independently verify the date the video was recorded, but Obi’s media aide, Umar Ibrahim, confirmed it was recent.
“It’s from last week, but I can’t recall the exact day,” he said.
Addressing the ongoing internal crises within opposition parties, Obi accused the ruling government of deliberately sowing discord within both the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“The turmoil in the Labour Party and PDP is being orchestrated by the government. Quote me anywhere,” he stated, adding that such interference was aimed at weakening the opposition.
He recalled an instance during former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s tenure, when steps were taken to maintain party stability.
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“At that time, I went to President Yar’Adua. He summoned the INEC Chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu, and made it clear he didn’t want problems in any political party. The issues were resolved. But today, every party is in crisis — and it’s intentional,” Obi said.
He stressed that democracy cannot thrive without a strong and credible opposition, vowing to address these structural weaknesses if elected.
Obi also urged Nigerians to take ownership of the electoral process and defend their votes, warning that any serious reform would be fiercely resisted by those benefiting from the status quo.