2027: Obi Denies Rejecting Atiku’s Running Mate Offer

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has denied reports that he rejected an offer to become the running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Obi made the clarification during an interview on Arise TV while discussing the possibility of an alliance among opposition parties ahead of the election.

Obi, Atiku and other opposition leaders had formed a coalition under the ADC in 2025. The political arrangement later fractured, with Obi emerging as the NDC presidential candidate and Atiku becoming the ADC standard-bearer.

Asked whether he would step down for Atiku or accept the vice-presidential slot if a fresh alliance was reached, Obi said discussions should focus on the political parties rather than individual candidates.

“I’m a candidate, yes. So, my leader, Atiku, is a candidate of another party. I am a candidate for another party. So, you are talking about two parties coming together; it is no longer him or me,” Obi said.

He likened a potential opposition alliance to the merger of two corporations, arguing that such an arrangement should be negotiated institutionally rather than through informal discussions between individual political leaders.

“All those parties have candidates. So, it is a discussion. It is no longer me, as Peter is talking. It is like a situation where two corporations are trying to come together. It is no longer something the two CEOs go to a drink and say we are going to work together. They need to look at how to bring these two corporations together,” he said.

Responding to claims that he had previously rejected an offer to serve as Atiku’s running mate, Obi dismissed the report.

“I don’t know where that was said. I wasn’t even in a position where that was being offered, and I refused,” he said.

Obi previously served as Atiku’s running mate during the 2019 presidential election. The two later contested the 2023 election separately, with Obi running on the Labour Party platform while Atiku contested under the Peoples Democratic Party.

The NDC candidate said he remained open to any political arrangement capable of addressing Nigeria’s challenges, stressing that his priority was an alliance committed to national development.

“I want to be part of any coalition that will make Nigeria work. That will make Nigeria productive. That will create jobs for the young ones. That will pull people out of poverty. That will make education work,” Obi added.

He listed national unity, respect for the rule of law, order, accountable leadership, education, healthcare and job creation among the principles that should guide any opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 election.