Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has denied reports that he rejected an offer to become the running mate of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, ahead of the 2027 election.
Obi made the clarification during an interview on Arise TV while responding to questions about a possible alliance among opposition parties ahead of the presidential poll.
The former Anambra State governor said no such offer was ever made to him, insisting that the issue of an opposition alliance should not be reduced to negotiations between individual politicians.
“I’m a candidate, yes. So, my leader, Atiku, is a candidate of another party. I am a candidate for another party. So, you are talking about two parties coming together; it is no longer him or me,” he said.
Obi explained that with both men now representing different political parties, any discussion about an alliance would have to involve the parties themselves.
“All those parties have candidates. So, it is a discussion. It is no longer me, as Peter is talking. It is like a situation where two corporations are trying to come together. It is no longer something the two CEOs go to a drink and say we are going to work together. They need to look at how to bring these two corporations together,” he said.
Asked whether he would step down for Atiku or accept the vice-presidential position if an agreement was reached, Obi rejected the claim that he had previously turned down such an offer.
“I don’t know where that was said. I wasn’t even in a position where that was being offered, and I refused,” he said.
Obi and Atiku have a history of presidential partnership, having run together on the Peoples Democratic Party platform in the 2019 election. Their political paths later diverged in 2023, with Obi contesting under the Labour Party while Atiku remained the PDP candidate.
The two politicians subsequently joined other opposition figures in forming a coalition under the ADC in 2025. However, the alliance later fractured, with Obi emerging as the NDC presidential candidate and Atiku becoming the ADC standard-bearer.
Despite the political differences, Obi said he remained open to any genuine alliance capable of addressing Nigeria’s major challenges.
He said he would support a coalition committed to national unity, the rule of law, order, accountable leadership, education, healthcare and job creation.
“I want to be part of any coalition that will make Nigeria work. That will make Nigeria productive. That will create jobs for the young ones. That will pull people out of poverty. That will make education work,” Obi added.
