Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, in a new coalition arrangement has reportedly wooed the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi with the offer of vice president role in a joint single-term ticket.
The deal was said to have been discussed at a meeting between Atiku and Obi early this year in the United Kingdom.
It would be recalled that in the 2019 presidential election, Obi was Atiku’s running mate under the People’s Democratic Party, where they lost to former President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress.
A new coalition was lunched nn March 20, by Atiku, Obi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and others in Abuja to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.
The PUNCH, quoting sources, said a party chieftain who is in the know-how of the deal revealed that Atiku and Obi have agreed and were now consulting with their respective camps.
He said, “You know that by this time next year, by May 2026, almost all parties would have unveiled their presidential candidates for the 2027 elections. So, the coalition move is mindful of that.
“The leaders have all agreed that it’s only a coalition between Atiku, Obi, and others that can wrest power from Tinubu. So, they are crossing the T’s and dotting the I’s to finalise this.
“Atiku and Obi met earlier this year in the UK. That was where Atiku first mooted the idea of a coalition and urged Obi to be his running mate. Obi then asked for time to think it over and consult his loyalists.
“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. They have both agreed to sign a written agreement if necessary. Obi is trying to get the buy-in of his loyalists before this is formally announced.”
It was learnt that both due to the ongoing crises both the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and LP, Atiku and Obi are likely to pitch tent with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“The crisis in PDP and LP is frustrating. While they are both making efforts and waiting to see if the crisis can be resolved in favour of their camps, they are both looking at possible political parties to run on.
“The Social Democratic Party was part of the plans before now, but it seems the ruling APC has also infiltrated the party. So, they are tilting towards the ADC. As a matter of fact, some of the loyalists have been meeting with the ADC leadership, and others have quietly joined the party. So, if things do not favour them in LP and PDP, they may join ADC.”
Atiku’s spokeperson, Paul Ibe, said though he is aware that his principal and obi were consulting among themselves, added “I cannot speak on the specific agreement they have reached.
“All I can tell you is that both of them are focused on ensuring that they build a viable coalition that will be robust enough to accommodate diverse Nigerians to unseat the clueless APC government in 2027.”
A loyalist of Obi and the National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Peter Ahmeh, said the former Anambra State governor is working with others to resolve the crisis within the LP.
Pressed further on the Atiku-Obi new agreement, Ahmeh simply said “No comment on this one, until I speak with my oga.”
He said “My position on this remains that, for us to defeat the APC, we must follow the rules of engagement so we don’t allow Tinubu to become the landlord in the southern part of Nigeria when we have somebody who can defeat him effortlessly.
Speaking on the Atiku-Obi joint ticket, the National Coordinator of the Obedient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, said no such thing exists at the moment.
“As far as I am concerned, after I met with him in Benin, there was nothing of this nature on the table. He has not shared with me any of this particular issue. Neither has he called nor talked to me about it. In fact, not too long ago, I just spoke with him.
“So, there is nothing, as far as I am concerned, to confirm that such a discussion is on the table at the moment.”
But the ADC National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, revealed that discussions is in progress with all stakeholders involved in the coalition efforts, adding that 21 former national chairmen of deregistered political parties are now part of the ADC, adding that the party would make a significant announcement before the end of the week.
He said, “The ADC leadership has held conversations with all major stakeholders in the coalition drive and even people in government — that is, even people in the APC.
“And they are all committed to building a mega African political party. So, we have spoken with all critical stakeholders. So, the stakeholders are all working together on this.
