FORMER Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has declared that he will support Peter Obi if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chooses him as the party’s flagbearer in 2027.
The 2023 PDP presidential candidate disclosed this during a recent interview with BBC Hausa Service, noting that he won’t contest if the party zones the ticket to the south or south-east.
“I have said repeatedly and I even said it before the 2023 general elections that if the PDP decides to zone the presidential ticket to the South or South-East specifically, I won’t contest it.
As long as it’s the decision of the party, I will abide by it. But I contested the 2023 presidential ticket because it was thrown open to all members of the party.
“If the party decides that it’s the turn of the South-East and Peter Obi is chosen, I won’t hesitate to support him,” Atiku quotedwas saying in an interview monitored by The Sun.
The former vice president’s position was made at a private meeting between Obi, Atiku and some other PDP leaders in Abuja, on Monday, May 13.
Obi, who was the Labour Party candidate in the 2023 presidential election, also met separately with former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido and former Senate President Bukola Bukola Saraki.
The meeting sparked speculations about a merger of some opposition political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on the possibility with the BBC Hausa, he noted that a merger between the PDP and Labour Party is possible.
According to him, nothing will stop them from merging if the two parties decide to an ally.
“It’s just a normal friendly meeting that we often have, particularly among us in the opposition parties. Such meetings are healthy for Nigeria’s democracy and in the country’s interest,” Atiku said while responding to questions about the meeting with Obi.
He continued by saying, “Yes, it’s very much possible. We can merge to achieve a common goal. So, it’s possible, and nothing can stop it if we wish to achieve that.”
While responding to the inquiry that the choice of presidential candidate might frustrate the merger, Atiku said “That’s not true. That challenge will not arise. I can tell you that the choice of who will fly the flag of the party won’t be an issue.”
Addressing his 2027 presidential ambitions, the former Vice President stated, “That would depend on the decision of my party. I can’t make any categorical statement on that. The party must decide on the way to go in the next election.
“Until that time comes. Let’s just wait and see how it will turn out.
“It must not be interpreted like that. I must not be eyeing elections to have meetings with political friends and associates. Currently, we are practising democracy in this country which we fought for with our blood.”
The ICIR reports that both Atiku and Obi under the PDP, contested for the presidency against Muhammadu Buhari and Yemi Osinbajo of the APC in 2019.
However, in 2022, during the lead-up to the 2023 election, Obi left to join the Labour Party and continued with his presidential ambition.
Obi secured third place behind Atiku in the February 23 presidential election, which was won by Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: [email protected]. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M