Atiku, Obi reject single-candidate push as opposition coalition talks intensify

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi have rejected the argument that opposition parties must present a single presidential candidate to defeat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general election.

The positions from the two camps could further complicate ongoing efforts to build a broad opposition coalition ahead of the election.

While both Atiku and Obi remain open to greater cooperation among opposition parties, neither camp has indicated that its candidate would withdraw from the race solely to create room for another aspirant.

The development comes as the G-100, a political pressure group led by former Director-General of the Progressive Governors Forum, Salihu Lukman, pushes for a united opposition front.

The group has argued that opposition parties could weaken their chances of defeating Tinubu if they contest separately and divide their votes among multiple presidential candidates.

G-100 has therefore been advocating a common platform and a single presidential candidate capable of mounting a strong challenge against Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, the latest positions from the Atiku and Obi camps suggest that while broader cooperation may be possible, reaching an agreement on a single presidential candidate could prove more difficult.

Atiku: Nigerians will decide in 2027

Atiku’s position was conveyed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.

Shaibu said the former vice president remained open to efforts aimed at bringing opposition forces together but suggested that the conversation had moved beyond simply holding meetings and political summits.

According to him, Atiku had already presented his policy alternatives to Nigerians and would allow voters to make their decision at the polls.

“We have moved beyond this conversation. Atiku has brought to the table the policy alternatives, including what he would do with petroleum subsidy if elected. His policies are about the people and they are not hidden. Come January 2027, Nigerians will make their choice. This is where we are today,” he said.

Shaibu maintained that Atiku remained prepared to lead the country and urged Nigerians to assess the policies and programmes being offered by the various presidential candidates.

Atiku secured the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after joining the party as part of the opposition realignment ahead of the 2027 election.

He remains one of the central figures in discussions surrounding the proposed opposition coalition.

Atiku contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and finished second behind Tinubu in the official results.

Obi’s camp backs coalition but rejects single-candidate argument

Obi’s camp has also maintained confidence in his political strength.

Obi contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party and finished third in the official results.

He subsequently joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), where he has emerged as one of the prominent figures in the opposition movement.

The NDC has welcomed efforts to strengthen cooperation among opposition parties but rejected the argument that the parties must necessarily unite behind one candidate to defeat the APC.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, cited Nigeria’s political history in arguing that an incumbent president could be defeated even without the entire opposition operating under a single presidential ticket.

“Under a multi-party democracy, it is possible for one of the parties to defeat a sitting president. It happened in 2015 and it was only fragments of the All Progressive Grand Alliance and the Peoples Democratic Party that teamed up to form an alliance with the All Progressives Congress and they were able to defeat President Goodluck Jonathan,” Director said.

He said the NDC would not approach the 2027 election with the assumption that the opposition could only defeat the APC by presenting a single candidate.

However, Director also made the NDC’s preference clear, saying the party would support Obi if opposition forces eventually agree to field a common candidate.

“We have made the point clear that we should choose the best candidate in the opposition and we in the NDC believe that Peter Obi is the best if he is allowed to lead the coalition. This is our position,” he said.

The competing positions are likely to keep the debate over the structure of the opposition coalition alive as political consultations intensify ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

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