Obi Refuses to Step Down for Atiku Ahead of 2027 Election

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), articulated his reasons for not stepping down for Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), ahead of the 2027 presidential election. In an interview with Arise Television aired on Thursday, Obi emphasized that the decision regarding a possible opposition alliance should be made by the political parties involved, rather than by individual candidates.

He stated that both he and Atiku are now candidates of separate parties, making it necessary for discussions to occur at the party level. Obi noted that the existence of candidates across various opposition parties means any merger or alliance would require negotiations on integrating their political structures.

He also denied having previously rejected an offer to serve as Atiku’s running mate, clarifying that he was never in a position to refuse such an offer. Obi's comments come amid ongoing efforts by opposition politicians to create a unified platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress in the upcoming election.