Former First Lady of Ondo State, Mrs Betty Anyawu-Akeredolu, has declared support for former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, to emerge as the presidential candidate of the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Anyawu-Akeredolu made her position known in a post on her verified X account on Friday.

Quoting a report in which she was cited as backing Obi and the Obidient Movement, the former first lady wrote simply: “Obi or nothing.”

Her declaration comes amid an ongoing debate between members of the Obidient Movement and supporters of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over who should secure the ADC’s presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general election.

Since Obi joined the ADC, his supporters have intensified calls on the party to zone its presidential ticket to the South and to present him as its flagbearer.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the ADC has cautioned supporters of aspirants against promoting division within the party ahead of its June primaries.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, issued the warning during a live audio conversation on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday in Abuja.

Abdullahi urged party supporters to avoid what he described as “preaching division and exceptionality” within the coalition.

He also spoke on the proposal for the 2027 general elections to be conducted in 2026, describing such a development as a “double-edged sword” for the party.

According to him, an early election could pose internal challenges for the ADC, particularly in managing post-primary grievances.

He said the party could struggle to heal internal wounds if the election timetable is brought forward.

However, Abdullahi noted that an early poll could also favour the ADC, arguing that many Nigerians were dissatisfied with the performance of the current administration.

The ADC spokesperson further disclosed that he had held engagements with key figures in the opposition coalition, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, and former governors Rotimi Amaechi and Nasir El-Rufai.

He said the discussions centred on the need to strengthen unity within the party ahead of the next general elections. (Vanguard)

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