ABUJA, NIGERIA — Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has denied reports that he rejected an offer to serve as running mate to Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, for the 2027 elections, clarifying that no such proposal was ever made to him.
Obi made the clarification during an interview on Arise TV on Wednesday, where he fielded questions about a possible alliance between opposition parties ahead of the upcoming elections. The former Anambra governor said the narrative that he turned down a vice-presidential slot on Atiku’s ticket was a misrepresentation of what actually transpired during the coalition discussions.
“There was never a proposal for me to be running mate to Atiku. That is not what happened. People are entitled to their own version of events, but the truth is that no such offer was made,” Obi stated.
Obi’s comments come amid renewed speculation about the collapse of the opposition coalition that was formed in 2025 under the ADC. The coalition, which initially brought together Obi, Atiku, and other opposition leaders, was widely seen as an attempt to present a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 elections. However, the alliance fractured months later, with Obi emerging as the NDC presidential candidate while Atiku clinched the ADC ticket.
The split has since been a subject of intense political debate, with supporters of both leaders trading accusations over who was responsible for the collapse of the coalition. Some reports suggested that Obi was offered the vice-presidential position but declined, choosing instead to pursue his own presidential ambition.
Obi, however, insisted that his decision to run on the NDC platform was not a rejection of any offer but a product of the political realities that emerged after the coalition failed to reach a consensus on a single candidate. He said the opposition’s priority should be to present a credible alternative to Nigerians, adding that he remained open to collaboration with like-minded political forces.
“I have always said that I am not desperate for any position. What I want is a better Nigeria. If the coalition had produced a consensus candidate, I would have supported that person. But that did not happen, and I had to move on with my own ambition,” Obi explained.
The NDC presidential candidate also dismissed suggestions that the opposition was too fragmented to challenge the APC in 2027. He argued that the electorate, not political arithmetic, would determine the outcome of the election, and expressed confidence that his message of good governance and accountability would resonate with voters across the country.
As the 2027 elections approach, the relationship between Obi and Atiku remains a key factor in the opposition’s chances. While the two leaders have publicly maintained a cordial relationship, their separate presidential bids have complicated efforts to build a united front. For now, Obi’s clarification puts to rest one of the lingering questions about the coalition’s collapse, but the broader challenge of opposition unity remains unresolved.
