Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has dismissed reports linking him to a vice-presidential deal with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 elections, stating that his political mission is focused on ending bad governance—not on political positions.
Obi made this known on Monday in Abuja while responding to questions from Vanguard on the sidelines of an event where he donated ₦10 million each to a school and hospital building project by the Anglican Church in Kubwa.
Reacting to reports of a purported agreement to run as Atiku’s running mate, Obi said:
“I’m in a coalition against hunger, poverty, and ill health. Politics for me is not about positions, it is about doing the right thing… I’m not talking about positions.”
Although he neither confirmed nor denied whether such an offer was made, he emphasized that the focus should be on issues such as education and healthcare, which he described as vital to Nigeria’s progress.
He added that Nigeria’s wealth was being drained by corruption, depriving the country of resources needed to fund critical sectors like education and healthcare.
Meanwhile, the Obidient Movement—a large network of Obi’s supporters—also refuted the claims of a vice-presidential pact. The group’s Director of Strategic Communications, Nana Kazaure, issued a statement in Abuja stating that the report was baseless and potentially misleading.
“The Obidient Movement has been inundated with calls regarding media publications claiming Mr. Obi has agreed to be Atiku Abubakar’s running mate. There is no truth to this claim whatsoever,” Kazaure said.
She reaffirmed that Peter Obi remains committed to a coalition aimed at tackling bad governance, corruption, and other systemic problems—rather than power for its own sake.
“Mr. Obi remains in the Labour Party, and if that ever changes, he will make it known himself,” she stated.
On the other hand, Atiku’s media aide, Mazi Paul Ibe, confirmed ongoing coalition talks among opposition figures, including Atiku and Obi, but emphasized that details—including any power-sharing agreements—have yet to be finalized.
“While significant progress has been made, the leaders are keeping details close to their chest for now. Once everything is finalized, the public will be informed,” Ibe said.
The coalition is expected to unite opposition parties in a bid to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.
In related developments, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), reportedly one of the coalition platforms under consideration, has begun internal reforms to welcome new entrants. ADC National Chairman, Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu, announced plans to step down and revise the party’s constitution to allow immediate full participation by new members.
“We’ve agreed that once new members join, they will immediately enjoy full rights and privileges, including contesting elections,” Nwosu said.
As momentum builds ahead of 2027, the shape and strength of the opposition coalition remain a key political development to watch.
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