𝗢𝗯𝗶’𝘀 𝗔𝗗𝗖 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗶𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘁𝗶𝗸𝘂’𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗹 — 𝗘𝘅-𝗣𝗗𝗣 𝗴𝗼𝘃 𝗮𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁

A former governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party has said the prospects of Peter Obi clinching the presidency on the platform of the African Democratic Congress in the 2027 general election may hinge largely on whether former Vice President Atiku Abubakar steps aside from the race.

Speaking during a political discussion, the ex-PDP aspirant argued that the opposition space remains fragmented, warning that the presence of multiple heavyweight contenders could split votes and weaken the chances of defeating the ruling party in 2027.

According to him, Peter Obi commands a strong and loyal support base, especially among young voters and urban populations. However, he noted that Atiku’s continued participation in the race could pose a major challenge, as both politicians are likely to draw support from overlapping voter blocs across different regions of the country.

He stressed that Atiku’s political experience, nationwide structure, and long-standing influence within opposition politics make his decision critical to shaping the opposition’s electoral strategy. “If Atiku does not withdraw, the opposition risks repeating the mistakes of past elections where divided forces handed victory to the ruling party,” he said.

The former aspirant further called for opposition leaders to prioritise unity over personal ambition, urging them to form a broad coalition capable of mounting a credible challenge in 2027. He added that negotiations and consensus-building would be necessary if the opposition hopes to present a single, formidable candidate.

Neither Peter Obi nor Atiku Abubakar has officially declared their intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, as consultations and political realignments continue across party lines.