Atiku Should Withdraw from 2027 Race , Become ‘Political Father of Nigeria’ — LP chieftain
Ewa Ugochi
Dr. Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh, an Oxford-trained entrepreneur and the Labour Party candidate in the 2023 elections, has called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to forgo any presidential ambitions for 2027 and instead take on the role of the "godfather of modern Nigeria."
He cautioned that running for office again at nearly eighty years old would be misaligned with current political realities.
In a recent statement, Dr. Ezeh emphasized that Atiku’s most significant political moment was in 2019, arguing that he should not have contested in the 2023 elections.
"His greatest legacy now would be to guide credible leaders to power rather than seek to run again," Ezeh remarked.
Ezeh referenced his well-known essay titled “Mai gaskiya: Buhari’s 12.7 Million Votes and PO's Anointing,” in which he compared the enduring political influence of former President Muhammadu Buhari to the rising popularity of the Labour Party's Peter Obi.
He pointed out that Buhari’s strength lay in a cultivated image of honesty and frugality, while Obi's appeal is grounded in a "triple asset" character, competence, and the ability to perform.
"Nigeria needs a leader with integrity who also possesses the skill and determination to achieve results. Obi embodies that combination," he stated.
Ezeh criticized certain South-East political elites for undermining Obi, not due to ideological differences, but because of personal ambitions and fears of being sidelined in a new political landscape.
"There is a significant disconnect between the South-East elite and the general populace.
The masses support Obi, while the elites work against him," Ezeh claimed, suggesting that this dynamic has weakened the region's national influence.
He also dismissed the idea that the South-East should target a vice-presidential position in 2027 as a stepping stone toward the presidency, describing it as a "shortcut trap" that would only reinforce second-tier political relevance.
Ezeh noted that unlike many opposition figures who fade away after electoral setbacks, Obi has managed to maintain his national relevance and political momentum.
"In the past, after elections, there would often be silence. But Obi has kept the momentum alive, showing that he is truly the man of the moment," he said.
The Labour Party chieftain asserted that the 2027 elections represent a pivotal opportunity for the South-East and Nigeria as a whole to elect a president who embodies both integrity and capability.
