Simon Okeke, a former chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), has called on ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to support Peter Obi as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2027 elections.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Okeke argued that Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate and former governor of Anambra State, enjoys unmatched national acceptance despite his imperfections.
“Nonetheless, among all the presidential aspirants today, he is the most acceptable nationwide. Peter Obi may not be getting it right in some areas. Being human, it should be expected. No one is perfect. Nonetheless, among all the presidential aspirants today, he is the most acceptable nationwide,” the statement reads.
“At no time in the political history of Nigeria before, during and after our Independence till this date has any candidate from any part of Nigeria enjoyed such a universal nationwide acceptance, not even the great charismatic Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik).”
Okeke said the 2027 race presents an opportunity for Atiku to repay the political backing he has consistently received from the South-East, including during the last election cycle.
He urged the former vice-president to withdraw from the contest and endorse Obi, citing the principle of power rotation which, he argued, favours a southern candidate completing the current tenure cycle.
“One would expect that 2027 contest will give Alhaji Atiku a good opportunity to reciprocate the same support he has progressively received from the South East by him not only withdrawing from the contest which by convention is for Southern candidates to serve out balance of term of 4 years, but to throw his weight behind Peter Obi,” he said.
“Failure to do this will portray him to be opposite of what we thought he is – a true friend of Ndigbo. He needs to show appreciation of our South East support for his several presidential bids.”
The former PSC chairman also appealed to voters in the north and south-west to rally behind Obi, framing his candidacy as a pathway to national equity and reconciliation.
He added that an Obi presidency would help “put the burden of the Nigeria-Biafra war behind us permanently.”
