ABUJA, Nigeria — Former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi on Monday, May 19, 2025, distanced himself from reports suggesting he had agreed to serve as running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the 2027 general election, insisting that his only interest lies in a coalition against bad governance in Nigeria.
Obi made the remarks during a visit to Duke Akamisoko, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Kubwa, in Abuja, amid intensifying speculation over opposition alliances aimed at unseating the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The only coalition I am interested in is the one against hunger, poverty, and the bad state of healthcare and education in the country,” Obi said, as quoted by Channels Television.
“I am not desperate for any position.”
The former Anambra State governor’s statement comes in response to widespread reports claiming he had accepted to run as Atiku’s vice-presidential candidate on a joint ticket, under a proposed single-term presidency by the former PDP flagbearer.
The reports also suggested that both men were exploring the possibility of running on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) platform if internal crises in the PDP and LP remain unresolved.
Obi, however, categorically dismissed the claims, accusing unnamed political actors of pursuing “selfish political interests” disconnected from the real challenges facing Nigerians.
“I am not part of any arrangement driven by ambition. Our country faces critical issues — hunger, insecurity, lack of healthcare, collapsing education — and that is what we must fix,” he said.
Obi’s comments reaffirm his stance on issue-based politics, a position that has defined his public engagements since the 2023 elections, where he finished third behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Atiku.
During his visit to the Anglican Diocese, Obi also donated towards a school project, reinforcing his message of supporting education and social development as the foundation for national renewal.
