Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has reportedly offered ex-Anambra State Governor and Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, the position of vice president on a proposed joint presidential ticket for the 2027 general elections.
Multiple credible sources involved in ongoing coalition talks disclosed to The PUNCH that the offer includes a single-term presidency by Atiku, who has pledged to hand over power to Obi after four years.
The proposal was said to have been tabled during a private meeting between both leaders in the United Kingdom earlier this year. While Atiku is said to have committed to stepping down after one term, Obi has reportedly given a conditional nod to the arrangement and is currently consulting with his loyalists.
This would be a repeat of their 2019 partnership, when Obi was Atiku’s running mate under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), though the ticket was defeated by former President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The coalition idea gained momentum following a March 20 meeting in Abuja, where Atiku, Obi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and others publicly declared their intention to unite opposition forces to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
However, both the PDP and LP have been grappling with internal leadership crises, forcing coalition leaders to explore alternative platforms, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
One source said, “Recent developments show that Obi has accepted to be Atiku’s running mate. Atiku has also agreed to serve a single four-year term. They are prepared to sign a written agreement, and consultations are ongoing with their core supporters.”
Another insider revealed that the ADC is being considered as a viable platform, given concerns over infiltration of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) by the APC.
Confirming the broad coalition efforts, Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, told The PUNCH that both leaders are committed to forming a “robust coalition” to unseat the APC, although he declined to comment on the VP arrangement.
Likewise, Peter Ahmeh, National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties and a close ally of Obi, declined to confirm or deny the deal, but emphasized the need for unity to defeat APC.
Meanwhile, National Coordinator of the Obedient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, said no such plan had been discussed with Obi as of their last communication.
On the platform question, ADC National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, confirmed discussions with “all critical stakeholders,” including some from the ruling APC. He said the ADC is spearheading efforts to build a mega political force and would make key announcements within the week.
With party primaries for 2027 likely to begin by mid-2026, political watchers expect clearer signals on the Atiku-Obi partnership and their potential political base in the coming months.
