Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has stated that he will be happy to lend his support if the party determines in 2027 that it is the South-East’s turn and chooses Peter Obi as its nominee.
“I have stated time and time again, and even prior to the general elections in 2023, that I will not run for president if the PDP chooses to allocate the ticket to the South or South-East explicitly. I will follow the party’s decision as long as it is made. However, I ran for the 2023 presidential ticket because it was available to all party members.
“If the party decides that it’s the turn of the South-East and Peter Obi is chosen, I won’t hesitate to support him,” Atiku declared in a recent interview with BBC Hausa .
He added that a merger between the PDP and Labour Party is possible.
Atiku also emphasized that, members of the party would decide his fate in the 2027 general elections.
The former Vice President mentioned that his recent meeting with Obi might indicate a possible alliance leading up to the 2027 general elections.
Responding to questions about the meeting with Obi, Atiku said, “It’s just a normal friendly meeting that we often have, particularly among us in the opposition parties. Such meetings are healthy for Nigeria’s democracy and in the country’s interest.
It must not be interpreted like that. I must not be eyeing elections to have meetings with political friends and associates. Currently, we are practising democracy in this country which we fought for with our blood.”
Last week, Obi held a private meeting with Atiku and some other PDP leaders in Abuja.
Obi also met separately with former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido and former Senate President Bukola Saraki, sparking speculation about a possible coalition for the 2027 general elections.
Obi was a PDP member until 2022, when he left to pursue his presidential ambitions with the Labour Party.
He finished third behind Atiku in the February 23 presidential election, which was won by Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress.
Atiku blamed Obi’s departure from the PDP for his loss to Tinubu.
Analysts argued that Atiku’s 6,984,520 votes combined with Obi’s 6,101,533 votes could have secured a win against Tinubu, who received 8,794,726 votes.
