2027: Obi Says Decision on Stepping Down for Atiku Is Beyond Him

Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar amid discussions over the 2027 presidential election.

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has said he cannot personally decide to withdraw his 2027 presidential ambition in favour of African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Atiku Abubakar.

Obi made the clarification during an interview with Arise Television, explaining that the political circumstances surrounding both candidates have changed since they contested the 2023 presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to the former Anambra State governor, he and Atiku are now candidates of separate political parties, meaning any possible arrangement between them would have to involve the parties rather than being determined solely by the two politicians.

“Where we are now is that I’m a candidate, my leader Atiku is a candidate of another party, so you are talking about two parties coming together; it’s no longer me or him,” Obi said.

Obi and Atiku were both members of the PDP during the 2023 presidential contest, which was won by President Bola Tinubu. Obi subsequently left the PDP and became the NDC’s presidential candidate, while Atiku is contesting the 2027 election under the ADC.

The development has fueled speculation about a possible political alliance between the two opposition figures ahead of the 2027 election.

Obi was also asked about reports that he had been offered the position of Atiku’s running mate. He dismissed the claim, saying he was not in a political party where such an offer had been presented to him.

“I wasn’t even in any party where that offer was on the table. I wasn’t even in a position where it was being offered and I refused,” he said.

The NDC candidate maintained that any decision concerning the leadership or structure of a possible opposition alliance would need to be resolved by the political parties involved, rather than by an individual candidate.

His comments come amid continuing discussions among opposition politicians and supporters over the possibility of a united political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.