Fresh controversy has emerged over the 2027 presidential election following a claim by businessman and social media commentator, Uche Rochas, that former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi will not contest the next general election.
Rochas made the assertion while reacting to the legal uncertainty surrounding the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), the political platform expected by some of Obi's supporters to provide the platform for his anticipated 2027 presidential bid.
The controversy followed a recent ruling of the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, which set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the NDC as a political party.
In the ruling, Justice Isah Dashen held that the earlier judgment adversely affected the rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which claimed ownership of the logo being used by the NDC and was not joined as a party in the suit.
The judgment has since generated mixed reactions across the political landscape, with opposition figures alleging that the development is part of a broader attempt to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general election. Supporters of the ruling party, however, insist that the dispute remains a legal matter that should be resolved through the courts.
Reacting to the development in a post on his X account on Saturday, Rochas declared that Obi would not feature on the ballot in the next presidential election.
"Peter Obi will not be on any ballot in the 2027 general election. We will certainly miss him, and the noise," he wrote.
Rochas also took a swipe at Obi's supporters, claiming that many had invested their time and resources in supporting the NDC project.
"I also feel sorry for those he deceived into spending their time and money on the NDC. Now, there will be no refunds," he added.
His comments have further heightened political debate over the future of the NDC and the prospects of Obi's participation in the 2027 presidential race.
Meanwhile, opposition leaders have continued to maintain that the legal battle over the NDC's registration is politically motivated, insisting that all qualified political associations should be allowed to participate freely in Nigeria's democratic process.
Political observers believe the outcome of the litigation over the NDC's registration could significantly influence the configuration of opposition politics and the build-up to the 2027 general election.
Neither Peter Obi nor his media team had officially responded to Rochas' remarks as of the time of filing this report.
