A presidential hopeful under the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Faduri Oluwadare Joseph, has criticised former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi over his reported alliance with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general election.
Gatekeepers News reports that Joseph, who previously aspired to the presidency under the Labour Party in 2023 and later stepped down for Obi, accused the former Anambra State governor of aligning with political figures he once opposed.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja while declaring his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, Joseph questioned Obi’s choice of political allies, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai.
“Who are the people in ADC? They are the same individuals that Mr. Peter Obi contested against two or three years ago. The same people who brought Nigeria to where it is today. The same people who make sure that we have no light,” he said.
“The same people who are the problems of our country, were the ones that Mr. Peter Obi has gone to join. The question is, if he is given the ticket tomorrow, who are the people that will form his cabinet? These same people. So, this election would not be about one political class to another.”
Joseph argued that the 2027 election should represent a generational shift in Nigeria’s leadership, citing youth unemployment, insecurity, economic hardship, currency depreciation, and corruption as key challenges facing the country.
“A country once flowing with opportunity is now burdened by poverty, hunger, kidnapping, and fear,” he said.
He blamed Nigeria’s challenges on decades of corruption, mismanagement, and leadership that prioritised personal interests over national development, while highlighting the struggles of Nigerians abroad who continue to support families at home despite limited opportunities locally.
Joseph also criticised the continued dominance of older politicians in government, calling for younger leaders to take charge.
“Men in their 80s and 90s are still running our government. Leadership in Nigeria needs the younger generation to run it better,” he said.
“This election is about the people, especially the youth, who have been suffering all these problems. We have oil, yet we suffer. We have water, yet we are thirsty. We have food, yet we are hungry.”
He urged Nigerians to focus on leadership quality rather than party loyalty, adding, “It is time for a younger generation to run this nation, and it is time for leaders who will truly rescue the country.”
