Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has reportedly offered Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, the vice-presidential slot in a proposed one-term joint ticket ahead of the 2027 elections.
Multiple insider sources involved in the coalition talks, who spoke to The PUNCH under anonymity, revealed that the proposal was first discussed during a meeting between Atiku and Obi earlier this year in the United Kingdom.
According to the sources, Atiku has pledged to serve only a single four-year term if elected president, with the intention of handing over to Obi in 2031. The former Anambra governor, sources say, has agreed in principle to the offer but is currently consulting with his political allies.
The proposed alliance is part of a broader effort by opposition leaders to form a united front against President Bola Tinubu’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
Atiku and Obi, who previously ran together on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket in 2019, were among the prominent figures who announced the formation of a coalition in Abuja on March 20, 2024, alongside former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai and others.
Despite the initial buzz, both the PDP and Labour Party have since been entangled in internal crises, delaying formal progress on the coalition front. Nonetheless, sources say consultations are ongoing and the talks have gained momentum.
A senior party figure involved in the negotiations stated:
“Atiku and Obi have reached a verbal agreement. Atiku has committed to stepping down after one term, and Obi will be his vice president.
They are both ready to sign a written agreement. Obi is just finalising consultations with his base before the public announcement.”
On the issue of platform, insiders say both PDP and LP are being considered, but the unresolved crises in both parties have prompted the coalition to explore other options.
“The Social Democratic Party (SDP) was considered, but there are concerns of APC influence there. Now, attention is shifting to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Several loyalists have already opened discussions with ADC leadership, and some have quietly joined,” another source said.
When contacted, Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, confirmed that discussions around a coalition are ongoing but declined to comment on any specific agreement.
“I know His Excellency Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi are working toward building a viable coalition. I cannot speak on any specific agreement reached, but the goal remains to unseat the APC and rescue Nigeria from poor governance,” he said.
Peter Ahmeh, National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties and an Obi loyalist, also declined to confirm the single-term deal but noted that Obi remains committed to resolving issues within the Labour Party.
“We are still in LP for now, and we must create an environment that can accommodate everyone. There’s no need to allow Tinubu to dominate the South when we have someone like Obi who can win,” he said.
As the political landscape begins to shift in preparation for the 2027 elections, all eyes remain on whether the proposed Atiku-Obi alliance will materialize and on what platform.
