2027 Election: 3 Things That Could Happen if Peter Obi Steps Down for Atiku
- Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has met with Peter Obi, the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party ahead of the 2027 election
- The meetings sparked speculations about either of the two men stepping down and sacrificing presidential ambition
- Should Obi decide to step down for his former principal, Legit.ng highlights three political implications
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering politics, elections, and governance in Nigeria.
FCT, Abuja - Who will step down for the other? That is the key question political analysts try to answer as the anti-Bola Tinubu coalition adopt the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Legit.ng reports that opposition figures picked the ADC as the platform to confront the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 election.
Source: Facebook
Two former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains of the coalition have indicated interest in picking the presidential ticket of the alliance, and there could be more as the country inches closer to 2027. Former Vice President (VP) Atiku Abubakar is a top name among the aspirants.
Former governor Peter Obi is also in the race, as he has said he will spend only one term if given the ticket and elected president in 2027.
Obi’s position aligns with the agitation that the south should remain in power until 2031, when it is expected to shift to the north. President Tinubu, also a southerner like Obi, will finish his first term in 2027 and is warming up to contest for a second term.
Failed Atiku-Peter Obi deal
Legit.ng reports that the ADC had been selected as the special-purpose vehicle for the anti-Tinubu arrangement. Atiku’s lieutenants believed everything was proceeding as planned, until Obi’s army of supporters, known as the Obidients, condemned the alleged plan by Atiku to offer the Labour Party (LP) chieftain a vice presidential ticket.
When pressed to respond to the reports, Obi offered an ambiguous statement, saying he was focused solely on building a coalition against hunger and poverty, not on seizing power. Asked directly whether he would be working with Atiku, he replied: “You can make of the report what you want.”
However, The Africa Report quoted an associate of Atiku as saying Obi’s indecisiveness was largely influenced by his supporters.
In the same vein, activist Ndi Kato argued that Obi remains the most credible and popular candidate among all contenders, and it makes no sense for him to step down and be anyone’s running mate.
2027 election permutation
In this report, Legit.ng highlights three things that could happen if Obi steps down for Atiku.
1) Atiku's campaign gets a boost
If Obi steps down and supports Atiku, that could strengthen the former vice president's campaign.
It could potentially affect the political landscape.
2) Political realignment
This move could lead to realignments among supporters of both figures.
It could affect other political parties.
3) Impact on opposition strategies
Both men have prominent government critics on their sides.
Thus, opposition figures might adjust their strategies in response to Obi stepping down for Atiku.
Source: Twitter
Atiku's camp determined ahead of 2027
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that 'Demola Olarewaju, special assistant, digital media strategy to former Vice President (VP) Atiku, said should his principal withdraw from the 2027 presidential race and endorse Obi, President Tinubu “will sweep the north”.
Olarewaju stated that the recently-held by-elections are proof that political leverage is personal and not transferable.
Juxtaposing it with the opposition alliance, Olarewaju explained that he disagrees with the notion that Obi does not need to be on the ballot in the 2027 presidential election.
Source: Legit.ng
