Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has rejected calls for him to abandon his presidential ambition and support former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as his running mate in the 2027 presidential election.
Obi made his position known during an appearance on Arise TV, where he was asked whether he would consider stepping down for Atiku.
The former Anambra State governor stressed that both he and Atiku were presidential candidates representing separate political parties and that any possible alliance should be negotiated at the party level rather than by individuals.
“If there is an opportunity, would you step down for Atiku Abubakar as vice president?” the interviewer asked.
Responding, Obi said: “I am a candidate representing a political party, and Atiku Abubakar is also a candidate representing a political party. Any alliance must be between parties, not between individuals.”
He maintained that neither he nor Atiku would voluntarily step down because both candidates had institutional backing from their respective political structures.
“Atiku will not step down, and neither will I, because both of us have institutional support behind us, and it is only the collective that can come together to create any alliance, not me or Atiku,” Obi said.
His comments come amid ongoing discussions among opposition politicians and parties over possible alliances ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with various political figures exploring ways to challenge the ruling party.
The presidential election is scheduled for January 16, 2027.
