Atiku, Obi initiate alliance talks ahead of 2027 polls

In Abuja, on Monday, Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, convened a private meeting with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, along with several key figures from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Additionally, Obi held separate discussions with former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido and former Senate President Bukola Saraki, fueling speculation about a potential coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Having defected from the PDP to pursue his presidential aspirations within the Labour Party in 2022, Obi’s meeting with Atiku comes after their respective performances in the February 23 presidential election, where they trailed behind Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Atiku attributed his loss to Obi’s departure from the PDP, suggesting that their combined votes could have secured victory.

The closed-door discussions mark the first known interaction between Obi and Atiku since the election, prompting widespread attention on social media platforms with circulating photos of the meeting. Both Obi and Atiku, who ran together on the PDP ticket in 2019 but were defeated by former President Muhammadu Buhari, have been navigating internal party conflicts since then.

Atiku’s media advisor hinted at ongoing dialogue between the two leaders, suggesting the possibility of coalition talks for the 2027 presidential election. Similarly, the Deputy National Youth Leader of the PDP expressed optimism about opposition unity to challenge President Tinubu’s administration.

The Chief Spokesman of Obi’s Presidential Campaign Organization emphasized the meeting’s focus on addressing Nigeria’s challenges and rescuing the country from the grip of the ruling APC. However, he remained cautious about speculations regarding Obi’s potential return to the PDP or a merger between the Labour Party and the PDP.

While the APC downplayed concerns about the speculated merger, asserting confidence in their support base and the current administration’s performance, observers expressed skepticism about the premature nature of the LP-PDP meeting. Concerns were raised about the feasibility of an alliance between Obi and Atiku, given their presidential ambitions and potential discord among their supporters.

Political analysts suggested that while collaboration between the two leaders may be challenging due to conflicting interests and pressure from their respective supporters, the outcome remains uncertain as political dynamics continue to evolve.