Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has dismissed talks of teaming up with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the 2027 elections, insisting he is in the race to become Nigeria’s next president — not anyone’s running mate.
Appearing on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics, Obi said there has been no conversation with Atiku or anyone else about playing second fiddle in 2027.
“Nobody has ever discussed with me whether to be A or B or C,” he said. “I am going to contest for the President of Nigeria, and I believe I’m qualified.”
He also addressed concerns about the opposition coalition’s adoption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a platform ahead of the 2027 election, saying it should not be interpreted as disloyalty to the Labour Party.
“There is nothing anti-party in the decision,” Obi explained. “We are not abandoning where we are. We are going there together. What is constant is that we have agreed to work together.”
On working with political figures whose public image has been questioned, Obi said leadership is about inclusion, not exclusion.
“The job of a leader is to change,” he said. “You need everybody. If you want to serve, you must serve everybody.”
He didn’t spare the current administration, describing the Tinubu government as a failure and vowing to unseat it through lawful and democratic means.
“We’re going to ensure that we remove Tinubu’s government by all lawful means,” Obi declared. “I will govern within the law, I will bring civility to Nigeria, and I will appoint competent people into office. I will not be Minister of Petroleum.”
