Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has reportedly proposed a joint presidential ticket to Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, offering him the position of running mate with a commitment to serve only one term if elected, according to sources cited by PUNCH.
The proposal was reportedly first discussed during a private meeting between the two politicians in the United Kingdom earlier this year. Under the reported arrangement, Atiku would step down after four years in office, paving the way for Obi to take over the presidency.
Sources indicate that Obi, the former Governor of Anambra State, has given tentative approval to the proposal but requested time to consult with his political allies before making a final commitment. This potential partnership would mark a reunion of the pair, who previously ran together on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket in the 2019 presidential election, when they were defeated by then-incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.
The reported discussions follow the March 20, 2024 announcement of a new opposition coalition involving Atiku, Obi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and other prominent political figures. This alliance was publicly framed as an effort to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
With both the PDP and Labour Party currently facing internal divisions, sources suggest that consultations are underway to solidify support from party loyalists for the proposed alliance. “By this time next year, presidential candidates will begin to emerge. The leaders understand the urgency, and that only a united front led by Atiku, Obi, and others can defeat Tinubu,” one source told PUNCH.
The source added, “Obi has accepted the VP slot, and Atiku is ready to serve a single term. They’ve agreed to put this in writing if necessary, but Obi wants full buy-in from his camp before any public declaration.”
Regarding the platform for their potential candidacy, given the ongoing turmoil within both the PDP and LP, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is reportedly emerging as a leading alternative. Initial considerations included the Social Democratic Party, but concerns about possible infiltration by the ruling All Progressives Congress have apparently shifted focus to the ADC.
“Meetings have been held with the ADC leadership, and some loyalists have already joined quietly,” according to the source, suggesting preliminary groundwork is being laid for this political arrangement ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.
Neither Atiku nor Obi has publicly confirmed these reported discussions as of the time of reporting.
