Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has brushed aside growing rumours that ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar may take over the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during his visit to LEA Primary School, Kapwa, Abuja, Obi said he had no concerns about Atiku’s political manoeuvres, describing him instead as a “dear elder brother and respected leader.”
The speculation arose after reports indicated that several Atiku loyalists within the Peoples Democratic Party had defected to the ADC coalition—an action that unsettled some Obi supporters and fuelled talk of a potential takeover.
Tensions heightened following Atiku’s recent BBC Hausa interview, where he insisted he would not withdraw for any contender unless defeated in the ADC primaries. His statement stirred political debate and renewed interest in his 2027 ambitions.
Adding his voice, former Kaduna Central senator Shehu Sani posted on X that it would be “difficult for any aspirant to defeat Atiku if he makes it to any party primaries.”
But Obi dismissed the anxiety, saying the emerging coalition was focused on rescuing the nation rather than competing for supremacy.
“Let me tell you. Atiku is a very dear elder brother and leader that I have a lot of respect for. I’m a member of the Labour Party and I belong to the coalition forming the ADC for the presidential election in 2027.
“I can tell you, other parties and people are going to be part of it. All of us are going to come together as a people. That’s my belief.
“For us to do the right thing for the country, all well-meaning people will have to come together to rescue the country,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor also reiterated his readiness to contest the 2027 election—whether under the ADC or another coalition—arguing that competence, not party labels, should define Nigeria’s next leadership.
“I’m contesting and I’m sure I will be. People will have to look at who is competent, whether he has the capacity and everything. And I think I’m qualified.
“I have the capacity to do the job. I’m saying it over and over again that in four years, I can change the trajectory of Nigeria to a positive one,” Obi declared.
He further urged Nigerians to move beyond partisan politics and focus on governance and citizens’ welfare.
“We’ve talked too much politics in this country. I was in some villages in Anambra State, and could see poverty everywhere. We’re talking about party chairmen, primaries, and things like that. I want the new Nigeria to be talking about what will benefit the people,” he added.
Obi and Atiku both lost to President Bola Tinubu in the fiercely contested 2023 presidential election. Running on the Labour Party platform, Obi finished third, backed by a vibrant youth movement that helped make the poll one of Nigeria’s most competitive democratic contests.
(PUNCH)
