The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), led by National President Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, has urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to accept the role of running mate to Peter Obi under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) banner for the 2027 presidential election, calling it Nigeria's sole chance to unseat President Bola Tinubu.
Igboayaka argued that Nigeria's North-South power rotation ending the North's eight-year tenure in 2023 necessitates a Southern presidential candidate, positioning Obi as the most credible, popular Southerner to lead a "national rebirth" and address Igbo marginalization after 61 years without a head of state. He warned that fielding Atiku as ADC's presidential nominee would be "political suicide," alienate voters, and inadvertently aid Tinubu, while an Obi-Atiku ticket would secure victory by 1pm on election day.
The appeal, issued during a December 1, 2025, press conference in Abuja, rejects Obi subordinating to Atiku and demands Atiku's "patriotic sacrifice" for unity against APC failures, amid ADC's emerging opposition coalition.