Peter Obi, former Labour Party presidential candidate, has declared that democracy no longer exists in Nigeria. Speaking in an interview with Arise TV, Obi pointed to the recent Edo State governorship election and the unfolding political crisis in Rivers State as clear signs that democratic principles have collapsed.

Obi condemned President Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers over tensions between Governor Sim Fubara and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. The President’s move included suspending the governor, his deputy, and the entire State Assembly for six months, replacing them with a Sole Administrator.

Obi criticized the decision, arguing that no one should govern without a mandate from the people. “There is no democracy in Nigeria today,” he said. When asked why he plans to contest the 2027 presidential election, Obi said the fight for real democracy must continue. “Look at the Edo election — does that look like democracy? Rivers State buried the whole idea,” he said.

“You can’t fix problems by breaking the rules,” Obi added. “I’m still committed to building a better Nigeria. I have the background, the experience, and I’ve served in both the corporate world and as a governor. No other candidate brings what I bring to the table.”

The Anambra State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on former governor Peter Obi to return to the party. Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party after leaving the PDP, was invited back during an expanded meeting of the PDP State Executive Committee held in Awka on Thursday.

In a statement signed by the state chairman, Chidi Chidebe, the party warned that forming alliances with groups that do not share similar values may not bring the expected results. He urged all former and aggrieved PDP members in the state, especially Peter Obi, to come back and join hands with the restructured and energized party. “We openly welcome all our brothers and sisters back, especially our respected former governor, Mr Peter Obi, to join us in our mission to build a better Nigeria,” Chidebe said.

He also encouraged voters in Anambra to support PDP candidates Jude Ezenwafor and Francis Okeke in the upcoming elections. Chidebe further appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the process is free, fair, and transparent. In the same meeting, the party announced the unanimous nomination of Chief Clems Ezike as Anambra’s National Ex-Officio and asked the Southeast Zonal Executive Committee, led by Chief Ali Odefa, to forward his name to the PDP national secretariat.

Omoyele Sowore, former African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, has warned that the ongoing coalition talks among opposition parties might actually help President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid instead of challenging it. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Sowore criticized the current efforts, saying they lack clear vision and strong principles. He believes these coalitions are distracting Nigerians from real change and stopping a genuine movement of the oppressed from rising.

“They are making it easier for Tinubu to get re-elected. Nigerians are being fooled into thinking these groups are fighting for them, but they’re not,” Sowore said. He went on to describe the coalitions as empty and without any real purpose or ideology. “I’m not the only one who sees this — the coalition itself is isolated. They can’t even hold meetings properly or agree on a party to join. Now they want to register a new party, which just shows how disconnected they are. Any coalition without strong beliefs and integrity is bound to fail,” he added.

Sowore’s comments come amid shifting alliances ahead of Nigeria’s next presidential election. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has been pushing for opposition unity, engaging in talks with Labour Party’s Peter Obi and Nasir El-Rufai, who recently left the APC for the Social Democratic Party. However, these talks have faced resistance, with the PDP Governors’ Forum distancing themselves, worried it could destabilize their party. Peter Obi has also insisted he won’t join any coalition formed just to seize power, saying any alliance must focus on solving Nigeria’s deep-rooted governance issues.

Sowore urged Nigerians to stop relying on political elites and take control of their own future. “The people need to realize that real change will only happen when they design it themselves. If you keep getting distracted by these coalition talks, you’ll end up worse off than before. That has been Nigeria’s story since civil rule began,” he said.