Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), says he did not reject an offer to serve as running mate to Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in the 2027 elections.
Obi spoke during an interview on Arise TV while fielding
questions about a possible alliance between opposition parties ahead of the
upcoming elections.
In 2025, Obi, Atiku and other opposition leaders formed a
coalition under the ADC. Months later, however, the coalition collapsed after
some members left, with Obi emerging as the NDC presidential candidate and
Atiku as the ADC standard-bearer.
Asked whether he would step down for Atiku or accept the
vice-presidential slot if an alliance was reached, Obi said the discussion had
gone beyond 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.
Obi said any potential alliance must involve the political
parties rather than be reduced to negotiations between individuals.
“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.
When told he had previously said he would not accept the
vice-presidential position from any candidate, Obi denied rejecting any such
offer.
“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 was Atiku’s running mate in the 2019 presidential
election. However, they contested the 2023 election on different party
platforms, with Obi running on the Labour Party (LP) platform and Atiku on the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform.
Obi said he would be part of an alliance that would make
national unity, the rule of law and order, accountable leadership, education,
healthcare and job creation among his top priorities.
“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.
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