Speaking at a public event in Kubwa, Abuja—where he donated to a school and hospital project managed by the Anglican Church—Obi indirectly addressed the rumours during his remarks.
The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has reacted to growing speculation that he might run as a vice-presidential candidate alongside former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking at a public event in Kubwa, Abuja—where he donated to a school and hospital project managed by the Anglican Church—Obi indirectly addressed the rumours during his remarks.
“You can make of the report what you want, but I’m in a coalition against bad governance, hunger, and poverty,” he said in response to a question on the alleged deal.
Obi’s remarks followed reports that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had offered him the vice-presidential slot in a proposed single-term coalition ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to The PUNCH, the offer was made during a private meeting between Atiku and Obi in the United Kingdom earlier this year.
Atiku was said to have assured Obi that he would serve only one term and hand over power afterwards.
“Atiku and Obi met earlier this year in the UK. That was where Atiku first mooted the idea of a coalition and urged Obi to be his running mate. Obi then asked for time to think it over and consult his loyalists,” one source revealed.
Another insider confirmed to the newspaper, “But recent developments show that Obi has accepted to be Atiku’s running mate, and Atiku has also agreed to serve a single four-year term and hand over to the former Anambra State governor.
“They have both agreed to sign a written agreement if necessary. Obi is trying to get the buy-in of his loyalists before this is formally announced.”
The proposed alliance has revived memories of the 2019 presidential election, when Obi was Atiku’s running mate under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The pair lost that election to former President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
With both the PDP and LP battling internal crises, the coalition leaders are said to be considering the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a possible platform.
“The Social Democratic Party was part of the plans before now, but it seems the ruling APC has also infiltrated the party,” one source said.
“So, they are tilting towards the ADC. As a matter of fact, some of the loyalists have been meeting with the ADC leadership, and others have quietly joined the party. So, if things do not favour them in LP and PDP, they may join ADC.”
Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, declined to confirm the deal but acknowledged coalition discussions.
“I know that His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi have been talking about the coalition. I cannot speak on the specific agreement they have reached,” he said.
“All I can tell you is that both of them are focused on ensuring that they build a viable coalition that will be robust enough to accommodate diverse Nigerians to unseat the clueless APC government in 2027.”
Peter Ahmeh, a close Obi loyalist and National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, also declined to confirm the single-term deal but affirmed Obi’s continued commitment to Labour Party unity.
“No comment on this one, until I speak with my oga,” Ahmeh told The PUNCH.
“My position on this remains that, for us to defeat the APC, we must follow the rules of engagement so we don’t allow Tinubu to become the landlord in the southern part of Nigeria when we have somebody who can defeat him effortlessly.
“We are in the LP as we speak, and that is the option available to accommodate everyone because you cannot sleep in a hostile environment and expect to succeed.”
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