Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) candidate, are reportedly exploring the possibility of a merger as they look toward the 2027 general elections.
Paul Ibe, Atiku’s spokesperson, confirmed that the two political leaders, having learned important lessons from the 2023 elections, are now open to setting aside their past differences. Their goal is to form a united front with the intention of challenging the dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ibe shared that Atiku and Obi have been engaging in talks about forging an alliance. In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today program, Ibe expressed frustration with the current state of the country, stating, “Nigerians deserve better than what they are getting. It’s never been this bad in this country, and there is no hope.”
He went on to emphasize Atiku’s commitment to promoting cooperation among opposition parties as the only viable strategy to confront what he described as an “incompetent and clueless government” under the APC. “The truth of the matter is that Atiku Abubakar has long advocated for opposition parties to work together, to unite. That is the only way they can remove this government,” Ibe said. “I believe discussions are already happening, and the lessons learned from the 2023 elections by all parties, including Atiku Abubakar, are the foundation for these talks.”
Ibe further assured that both leaders are determined to move forward with unity and a shared vision. “They have learned from the past, and now they want to be united and make progress,” he added.
While Ibe confirmed that discussions are ongoing, he stopped short of revealing whether Atiku would be open to stepping down in favor of Obi in the 2027 race. “All options are on the table,” he said, leaving the future of their potential alliance open-ended.
This potential merger between Atiku and Obi signals a major shift in Nigerian politics, with both leaders seeking to consolidate opposition forces in an effort to challenge the APC’s hold on power in the upcoming elections.
