In a bid to strengthen opposition forces ahead of the 2027 general elections, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has reportedly offered Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, the vice presidential slot in a proposed single-term coalition ticket.
According to sources cited by The PUNCH, the offer was made during a private meeting between Atiku and Obi in the United Kingdom earlier this year. Atiku is said to have assured Obi that he would serve only one term and hand over power afterwards.
The proposed alliance has revived memories of the 2019 presidential election, when Obi was Atiku’s running mate under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). With both the PDP and LP battling internal crises, the coalition leaders are said to be considering the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a possible platform.
Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, declined to confirm the deal but acknowledged coalition discussions, stating that both Atiku and Obi are focused on building a viable coalition to unseat the ruling APC government in 2027. Peter Ahmeh, a close Obi loyalist, also declined to confirm the single-term deal but affirmed Obi’s continued commitment to Labour Party unity.
As the situation develops, it remains to be seen whether the coalition will come to fruition and what impact it will have on the Nigerian political landscape.
