2027: Peter Obi Explodes Claims He Rejected Atiku’s VP Offer
By David Oladiran
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has denied rejecting an alleged offer to become the running mate of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Obi said no such offer was ever made to him, dismissing claims that he turned down an opportunity to serve as Atiku’s vice-presidential candidate under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The former Anambra State governor made the clarification during an interview with Arise TV while responding to questions about the possibility of opposition parties forming an alliance ahead of the 2027 election.
Obi and Atiku were previously part of an opposition coalition formed in 2025 under the ADC. However, the political arrangement later fractured, with Obi emerging as the NDC presidential candidate while Atiku became the ADC standard-bearer for the 2027 contest.
Addressing speculation that he could step down for Atiku or accept a vice-presidential position as part of a possible opposition alliance, Obi said the issue should not be reduced to negotiations between individual politicians.
According to him, any possible alliance would have to involve the political parties and their structures rather than simply being a personal agreement between presidential candidates.
“It is no longer me, as Peter is talking. It is like a situation where two corporations are trying to come together,” Obi said, stressing that the process would require the parties to determine how they could work together.
When specifically confronted with the claim that he had previously rejected the possibility of accepting a vice-presidential slot from another candidate, Obi denied making such a rejection.
“I don’t know where that was said. I wasn’t even in a position where that was being offered, and I refused,” he said.
Obi and Atiku have a history of working together politically. Obi served as Atiku’s running mate on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform in the 2019 presidential election.
The relationship changed ahead of the 2023 election, when Obi contested under the Labour Party while Atiku remained the PDP presidential candidate.
Despite the political differences, Obi said he remained open to any arrangement capable of producing better governance and improving the lives of Nigerians.
He listed national unity, respect for the rule of law, accountable leadership, education, healthcare, job creation and poverty reduction among the priorities any credible political alliance should pursue.
“I want to be part of any coalition that will make Nigeria work,” Obi said, adding that the ultimate objective should be to make the country productive and create opportunities for young Nigerians.
The clarification comes as opposition politicians intensify negotiations and realignments ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with the possibility of alliances remaining a major issue in the emerging political contest.
