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Atiku and Obi React to Speculation Over 2027 Joint Presidential Ticket

Published by Tope Fakinlede on December 1st, 2024.

Atiku and Obi React to Speculation Over 2027 Joint Presidential Ticket

Atiku, Obi

The camps of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, have refuted claims that they are in talks for a joint presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 elections. This comes after photos of Atiku hosting Obi for breakfast at his Adamawa State residence went viral, sparking speculation about a potential political alliance.

Atiku shared a video of the breakfast meeting on his official X account on Saturday, captioning it, “It is breakfast time with my friend, #PeterObi, in the ‘land of beauty.’” The video showed the two leaders sitting together at a dining table, accompanied by others, as they prepared to enjoy their meal.

The speculation about a possible alliance gained momentum after Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Deputy National Spokesman of the PDP, suggested in a recent television interview that prominent opposition leaders, including Atiku, Obi, and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) leader Rabiu Kwankwaso, were in discussions to form a united front to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 election.

However, Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, clarified that the breakfast meeting was simply a reunion between two old friends, with no political agenda. Ibe explained, “Obi was invited as the keynote speaker for AUN’s 20th anniversary and 16th Founder’s Day celebration, an event that was significant. Atiku, who founded the university, was merely hosting him. Politics was not involved. Let’s not overanalyze the situation; politics cannot break friendships.”

Obi’s media aide, Ibrahim Umar, also dismissed the rumors, calling the idea of a 2027 joint ticket a laughable assumption. He stated, “There was nothing political about the meeting. Obi was invited to speak at the event, and that was the sole purpose of the visit. People often read too much into these things, but it wasn’t about politics.”