Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has expressed his willingness to support Peter Obi if the party decides to select him as their candidate for the 2027 presidential election. In an interview with BBC Hausa Service, Atiku reiterated his commitment to abide by the party’s decision.
"I have said repeatedly and I even said it before the 2023 general elections that if the PDP decides to zone the presidential ticket to the South or South-East specifically, I won’t contest it. As long as it’s the decision of the party, I will abide by it. But I contested the 2023 presidential ticket because it was thrown open to all members of the party. If the party decides that it’s the turn of the South-East and Peter Obi is chosen, I won’t hesitate to support him," Atiku stated.
He also mentioned the possibility of a merger between the PDP and the Labour Party, suggesting that recent meetings with Obi could indicate a potential alliance for the 2027 elections. "It’s just a normal friendly meeting that we often have, particularly among us in the opposition parties. Such meetings are healthy for Nigeria’s democracy and in the country’s interest," Atiku said.
When asked about the feasibility of a merger, Atiku responded positively, saying, "Yes, it’s very much possible. We can merge to achieve a common goal. So, it’s possible, and nothing can stop it if we wish to achieve that."
Atiku dismissed concerns that the choice of presidential candidate could hinder merger discussions, asserting that the party’s collective decision would prevail. "That challenge will not arise. I can tell you that the choice of who will fly the flag of the party won’t be an issue."
Regarding his continued involvement in politics, Atiku emphasized his dedication to improving Nigeria. "Yes, we can’t keep quiet and watch things go wrong. People are suffering and we are committed to making Nigeria a better place. My age doesn’t stop the young ones from testing their fate. Everybody, irrespective of age, is allowed to aspire to be anybody in the society, politically or otherwise," he remarked.
On his potential candidacy in the 2027 election, Atiku deferred to the party’s decision, stating, "That would depend on the decision of my party. I can’t make any categorical statement on that. It’s the duty of the party to decide on the way to go in the next election."
Recently, Peter Obi held private meetings with Atiku and other PDP leaders, including former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido and former Senate President Bukola Saraki, fueling speculation about a possible coalition for the 2027 elections. Obi, who left the PDP in 2022 to run for president under the Labour Party, finished third in the 2023 election, which was won by Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress.
Analysts suggest that combining Atiku’s 6,984,520 votes with Obi’s 6,101,533 votes could have secured a win against Tinubu, who received 8,794,726 votes. The recent meetings between Obi and Atiku mark their first public interaction since the election, sparking discussions about future political strategies.
In 2019, Atiku and Obi ran together on the PDP ticket but were defeated by former President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC. Due to internal conflicts, Obi left the PDP and ran as the Labour Party’s candidate in the 2023 presidential election.
