ABUJA, Nigeria — A potential political alliance between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi is generating intense speculation ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, following reports that the two are considering a joint presidential ticket.
According to multiple sources familiar with ongoing opposition coalition talks, Atiku has offered to run a single four-year term as president with Obi as his running mate — a strategic move aimed at unseating the incumbent, President Bola Tinubu.
The proposal was reportedly first discussed during a private meeting between the two political figures in the United Kingdom earlier this year.
While both camps have remained publicly noncommittal, insiders suggest that Obi has tentatively agreed to the arrangement and is currently consulting with his loyalists before a formal announcement is made.
A senior source close to the negotiations told The PUNCH, “But recent developments show that Obi has accepted to be Atiku’s running mate, and Atiku has also agreed to serve a single four-year term and hand over to the former Anambra State governor.”
Both Atiku and Obi previously ran on the same ticket in 2019 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), losing to then-President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Their renewed collaboration is now being positioned as a united front to challenge the Tinubu administration in 2027.
Yet uncertainty looms over the political platform on which the pair would contest. Both the PDP and LP are currently mired in internal leadership disputes, prompting discussions around an alternative party — most notably, the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The ADC’s national chairman, Ralph Nwosu, confirmed ongoing coalition discussions but declined to comment directly on whether Atiku or Obi would run on the party’s ticket.
“The ADC leadership has held conversations with all major stakeholders in the coalition drive and even people in government,” Nwosu said.
“And they are all committed to building a mega African political party.”
Sources suggest that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) was initially considered but has reportedly been compromised by pro-APC elements, making ADC the more viable alternative.
“Some of the loyalists have been meeting with the ADC leadership, and others have quietly joined the party,” said one insider.
Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, acknowledged the coalition talks but declined to confirm the reported deal.
“I cannot speak on the specific agreement they have reached,” he said.
“Both of them are focused on ensuring that they build a viable coalition robust enough to accommodate diverse Nigerians to unseat the clueless APC government in 2027.”
Within Obi’s camp, reactions have been mixed.
Peter Ahmeh, a key loyalist and National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, refrained from commenting directly on the alleged agreement, though he reaffirmed Obi’s commitment to resolving internal LP disputes.
Meanwhile, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, said there was no indication from Obi that such a deal had been finalised.
“As far as I am concerned… there was nothing of this nature on the table,” he said.
Within the PDP, however, the prospect of Atiku making another presidential bid has sparked internal dissent. Diran Odeyemi, a member of the party’s National Executive Committee, questioned the former vice president’s relevance.
“Atiku is not Abraham Lincoln. He should rest because I don’t see how he will realise his selfish ambition,” he said.
Conversely, Anthony Sani, a chieftain of the Arewa Consultative Forum, defended the potential partnership.
“Such an arrangement would surprise no one, especially when regard is paid to the fact that the duo was on the same team in PDP in 2019,” he noted.
