Igboayaka o. Igboayaka advocates selfless northern deputy for national rebirth
The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) has waded into the debate surrounding the political alignments for the upcoming 2027 general elections, proposing a strategic ticket to challenge the incumbent administration.
The influential Igbo youth group specifically urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to accept the role of Vice Presidential candidate under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) platform. This proposed structure would allow former Labour Party candidate Mr. Peter Obi to be the party’s Presidential candidate.
According to the OYC, the pairing of these two political heavyweights, with Obi leading the ticket, represents the only viable calculation the ADC can utilize to defeat President Bola Tinubu in the next election. This calculated suggestion aims to unite the support bases of the two prominent opposition figures under a single, formidable coalition. The group believes this alliance is critical for fostering a national rebirth for Nigeria.
Call for atiku’s selflessness and southern presidential slot
Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, the President of the Ohanaeze Youth Council, issued the advice in a statement released on Monday, stressing the importance of political selflessness. Igboayaka argued that since the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress is from the Northern region, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar should demonstrate sacrifice. This gesture would involve willingly stepping back to allow the presidential candidate of the party to be selected from the Southern region.
The OYC President justified this rotational arrangement by referencing the current political cycle. Igboayaka stated that Southern Nigeria is constitutionally slated to complete its tenure in 2031. Therefore, he argued, it has become imperative for the African Democratic Congress to restrict its choice of presidential candidate to Southern Nigeria for the 2027 election. This position highlights the persistent demands for regional equity and power balancing in Nigerian politics.
Justification based on alleged failure of current administration
The Ohanaeze Youth Council’s push for the Obi-Abubakar ADC ticket is based on its assessment of the incumbent government’s performance. According to the youth leader, the administration of President Bola Tinubu has allegedly failed Nigerians across various indices. Consequently, the OYC insists that the current government must be replaced at the next general poll to prevent further national decline.
Igboayaka described the alliance as a “national price” that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar should be willing to pay “for the sake of Nigeria’s rescue.” He views the former Vice President’s decision to deputize the former Labour Party candidate as a necessary concession for the greater national good. The statement underscores the group’s belief that Peter Obi possesses the vision and capacity to initiate the necessary recovery efforts for the country.
OYC warns against further marginalization of the igbo nation
The political demand from the Ohanaeze Youth Council is also fundamentally rooted in the group’s resolve to address the marginalization of the Igbo nation. Igboayaka firmly stated that the OYC would not allow any political planning or outcome that would serve to “further the marginalization of the Igbo nation.” This declaration makes the proposed Obi presidency a matter of both national strategic importance and regional political inclusion for the group.
The call for this specific ticket arrangement injects a significant proposal into the ongoing political maneuvering within the opposition camp. Both Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar have been linked to talks aimed at forming a mega-coalition to challenge the ruling party in 2027. The OYC’s public statement seeks to influence the outcome of these internal opposition negotiations, placing Obi at the forefront of the proposed unified ticket.
