The South-South Emerging Leaders’ Forum (SELF) has cautioned former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, against allegedly threatening a political coalition aimed at building a unified opposition.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, SELF accused Obi of using divisive rhetoric and political blackmail to pressure the newly formed African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition into handing him its 2027 presidential ticket without going through a transparent primary process.
The forum said Obi’s actions risk undermining the coalition’s integrity, reminding him of what they described as a pattern of avoiding primary contests. “Peter Obi must stop threatening the coalition. He must allow a level playing field where all aspirants can contest freely,” SELF stated.
The group further urged ADC leaders, particularly former Senate President David Mark, to resist pressure from any individual or region and ensure that party primaries remain open and transparent. SELF warned that forcing a ticket in favour of any particular zone could spark political tension, especially from other regions such as the North, where zoning remains a sensitive issue.
“We want to remind Mr. Peter Obi that the coalition is not formed to serve any one person’s ambition. The process must reflect fairness and equity,” the statement added.
Neither Mr. Obi nor the ADC leadership has issued an official response as of press time.
