A former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu, has alleged that former President Goodluck Jonathan offered Mr Peter Obi a ministerial position in exchange for stepping down from the 2027 presidential race.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Kachikwu claimed that Jonathan offered Obi the role of Coordinating Minister of the Economy if he would abandon his ambition and support Jonathan’s reported return bid.
Kachikwu also alleged that northern political leaders are backing Jonathan’s return to divide and weaken southern political strength ahead of the next election.
“In order to weaken the South, they have now drafted in former President Jonathan into the race,” he said. “He is alleged to be offering Peter Obi the position of Coordinating Minister of the Economy for him to support his ambition.”
Kachikwu further claimed that Obi was told he could never win the support of the North because he is from the South-East.
“A Peter Obi has been told in very clear terms that he will never get northern votes as an Ibo man and as such should accept to be Atiku’s running mate,” he stated.
He also accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a few northern elites of using ethnic and religious divisions to hold on to power while doing little to reduce poverty and illiteracy in the North.
“They convince millions of poor Northerners that a southern President Tinubu is the cause of their problems,” he said, warning Nigerians to resist what he called efforts to manipulate the political system in favour of a few individuals.
Kachikwu urged Nigerians to promote fairness and unity ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying, “We must all come to equity with clean hands and sincerity of purpose.”
The Labour Party and Peter Obi have not yet responded to the allegations.
