Oyindamola Ogunbowale
Fresh calls are mounting for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi to unite ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, with an Atiku-Obi ticket being proposed as a possible way of strengthening the opposition.
The development comes amid growing attention on the opposition’s chances of challenging President Bola Tinubu, who is seeking a second term under the All Progressives Congress.
Atiku and Obi remain two of the most prominent figures in Nigeria’s opposition politics.
Atiku, who has moved to the African Democratic Congress, and Obi, who is also now outside the Labour Party, have both been involved in discussions surrounding efforts to build a stronger opposition ahead of the 2027 election.
One of the proposals being discussed is for Atiku to emerge as the presidential candidate, with Obi serving as his running mate.
However, there is no confirmed agreement between the two politicians on such an arrangement.
The debate has intensified as the 2027 campaign season gathers momentum, with opposition figures and political commentators continuing to push for greater cooperation among the major challengers to the ruling APC.
Former Labour Party presidential candidate Datti Baba-Ahmed had earlier weighed in on the issue, arguing that Atiku could have secured victory if he had supported Obi during the 2023 presidential election.
He also called for greater political strategy and sacrifice ahead of the next election.
Atiku and Obi were both major contenders in the 2023 presidential election.
Atiku finished second behind Tinubu, while Obi came third, according to the official results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
With the 2027 presidential election scheduled for January 16, the pressure on opposition politicians to settle on a formidable candidate and structure is expected to continue.
For now, however, the proposed Atiku-Obi arrangement remains a subject of political discussion and has not been formally announced by either politician as an agreed presidential ticket.
