2027: Atiku won’t withdraw for Obi — Dele Momodu

A former presidential candidate and close political ally of ex–Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Mr Dele Momodu, on Thursday ruled out any possibility of Atiku withdrawing from the 2027 presidential race in favour of former Anambra State Governor, Mr Peter Obi.

Atiku, who was the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, formally joined the African Democratic Congress in November 2025, months after resigning from the PDP.

The move was widely interpreted as a strategic step to secure the ADC’s presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general election.

Last week, Obi, who garnered over six million votes to finish third in the 2023 presidential election behind Atiku and eventual winner, President Bola Tinubu, also defected from the Labour Party to the ADC.

Political observers see Obi’s move as part of a broader opposition realignment aimed at mounting a formidable challenge against Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Although stalwarts of the ruling All Progressives Congress, including the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, were quick to mock Obi’s defection—suggesting he could end up as Atiku’s running mate—key Obi supporters have rejected such an arrangement.

Prominent figures such as political economist Prof. Pat Utomi and activist Aisha Yesufu have warned they would withdraw their support if Obi accepted a vice-presidential slot on a ticket led by Atiku.

In recent days, speculation had gained traction that Atiku might step aside for Obi, based on an alleged understanding that Obi would serve a single four-year term and hand over to Atiku in 2031.

The rumour, however, has been firmly dismissed by Momodu, who insisted that Atiku has no reason to abandon the race.

In an exclusive interview with PUNCH Online in Abuja on Thursday, Momodu said, “Several people have asked me to advise former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to voluntarily withdraw from the 2027 presidential race.

“When I ask them why, they say he is too old. Not that they know of any fatality awaiting him. Not that he is less healthy than President Bola Tinubu.

“Out of unsubstantiated malice and prejudice, Tinubu can and should contest, but Atiku can’t and shouldn’t contest.”

The Ovation publisher noted that attempts to discredit Atiku’s ambition had become a recurring narrative in the media space.

“I read somewhere that the best of us shouldn’t play second fiddle to the worst of us. With all due respect, who or what determines the worst of us? Is it because Atiku is well-educated and more articulate than most of his contemporaries and political rivals?

“Is it that his legendary character and successes in business, academia, technology, philanthropy, and his contributions to deepening democracy and the rule of law are his cardinal sins?

“He’s certainly not a saint, but he towers above most of his peers by not being a parasite feeding on the state since he left power in 2007.

“Asking our most experienced and cosmopolitan aspirant to sacrifice his credentials on the altar of raw emotion and primordial sentiments is a monumental tragedy,” he added.

Meanwhile, former lawmaker and rights activist, Senator Shehu Sani, appeared to take a swipe at Obi on Wednesday, cautioning Nigerians against taking politicians’ public posturing at face value.

Writing on his verified X handle, @ShehuSani, he said, “When politicians say they will not withdraw or they will not accept being deputy, never think that is their final word. They can change their minds by starting with a phrase like, ‘In the national interest, I have decided to…’”

Beyond public denials and political bravado, there is growing evidence of behind-the-scenes engagement between Atiku and Obi aimed at forging a united opposition front ahead of 2027.

Both men are believed to share a common objective: unseating President Tinubu and ending the APC’s hold on power.

Following the 2023 election, Atiku and Obi reportedly held consultations with opposition leaders, elder statesmen, and civil society actors on the need for a broad-based coalition to avoid a repeat of the fragmented opposition that benefited the APC.

Their defections to the ADC are widely seen as the clearest sign yet that those talks are yielding results, with the party emerging as a potential platform for a mega opposition alliance.

While their camps remain divided over who should clinch the presidential ticket, insiders say discussions have centred on power rotation, zoning sensitivities, and the structure of a unity government capable of attracting nationwide support.

However, with both men commanding strong followings and believing they have legitimate claims to the presidency, the question of who steps aside remains unresolved.

As it stands, Atiku, Obi, and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi are reportedly positioning to contest the ADC’s sole presidential ticket later this year, setting the stage for a fiercely contested primary ahead of the 2027 general election.