Amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, fresh indications suggest that Mr Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, is set to contest for Nigeria’s presidency once again, this time without playing second fiddle to any contender.

The development comes amid ongoing negotiations between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), following the collapse of a proposed coalition arrangement between their camps.

Political observers argue that any suggestion of Obi accepting a vice-presidential slot under Atiku, whom he deputised during the 2019 elections under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), would face stiff resistance from the South-East and his nationwide supporters.

Multiple sources confirmed to The Guardian yesterday that Obi is preparing to formally declare his 2027 presidential ambition and is expected to unveil the political platform under which he will contest in the coming days.

Atiku, meanwhile, is reportedly in advanced discussions with the ADC, led by Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu. According to insiders, the former vice president has reached an understanding with the party, with plans to potentially run under its banner if coalition talks with Obi remain stalled.

The Guardian learnt that a recent meeting in London between emissaries of the two political camps (Obi’s team and Atiku’s delegation, led by former Kaduna State governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai) ended inconclusively after three days of intense deliberations.

Speaking to The Guardian, elder statesman and founding national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr Chekwas Okorie, disclosed that Obi is poised to make his declaration public within the week .

“I am in a position to know. Peter Obi will not run as anyone’s running mate. He led his team in a three-day meeting with Atiku’s team, and they could not agree on the vice-presidential offer being speculated in the media,” Okorie said.

“Obi has achieved a level of political mileage that cannot be subsumed under another candidate. Within the week, he will present himself as a presidential contender and may unveil the party platform he intends to use.”

Okorie also hinted at a broader political shakeup, revealing that the ADC may soon witness a leadership change as part of the arrangement with Atiku. According to him, several key figures, including former ministers from the now-defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc, are aligning with the ADC under the influence of El-Rufai and former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami.

“The new ADC will include a substantial part of the old CPC network. This is shaping up into a three-horse race for 2027,” he noted.

When contacted, ADC’s national chairman, Chief Nwosu, confirmed that the party has been approached by several politicians but declined to disclose specifics regarding Atiku’s presidential ambition. He affirmed that the party’s primary and national convention would determine its standard-bearer for the 2027 polls.

Many in the South-East view Obi’s 2023 presidential run as a landmark in Igbo political assertion and believe that stepping back into a secondary role would undermine the progress and momentum of the Obidient Movement, particularly among youth and urban voters.

Driven by a desire for transformative leadership and a decisive break from the old political order, many of Obi’s followers would likely view an alliance with Atiku, widely seen as part of the old political establishment, with deep scepticism or outright disapproval.

Zoning dynamics also weigh heavily in the discourse. A prevailing sentiment in the South-East is that the region deserves to produce the next president. Another vice-presidential pairing with a northern candidate could weaken the region’s bargaining power and political relevance in national politics.

The fallout from the 2023 election, where Atiku’s candidacy significantly affected the PDP’s fortunes in the South-East largely due to Obi’s defection and the rise of the Labour Party, underscores the risks. Analysts suggest that even a renewed Atiku-Obi ticket is unlikely to revive the PDP’s support in the region without ironclad power-sharing guarantees, which many would still regard with suspicion.

MEANWHILE, yesterday, both camps of Atiku Abubakar and the Obidient Movement dismissed the purported pairing of the former Vice President and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party for a possible presidential joint ticket in 2027 as the work of “fifth columnists” seeking to undermine the coalition of patriotic forces.

The former Vice President debunked media reports suggesting he had offered to pick Obi as his possible running mate for the 2027 presidential election, describing the report as speculative and aimed at causing bad blood among their supporters.

Atiku, speaking to The Guardian yesterday through his Special Adviser on Media, Paul Ibe, affirmed that the two presidential hopefuls remain committed to forming a broad-based political coalition to establish a people-oriented government to replace President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

Similarly, Nana Kazaure, Director, Strategic Communication and Media for the Obidient Movement, echoed this sentiment, stating: “Even as we know that the publication is imaginary to the author, we are tempted not to ignore it because of the possible far-reaching misconception it will have in the public space.”

In a statement made available to The Guardian, Kazaure added: “The Obidient Movement has been inundated with calls from our members within and outside the country, including other members of the public, regarding a media publication claiming that our principal, Peter Obi, has been offered the running mate position to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the new coalition being formed ahead of 2027.

“While frank and cordial engagements with our partners and stakeholders towards a coalition continue amicably, the Obidient Movement would like to state emphatically that there is no truth or basis to the reports whatsoever.

“Without any risk of contradiction, we would like to reiterate that Mr Obi has maintained that his objective and his involvement in a coalition is to provide a united front against and to tackle issues of bad governance, corruption, hunger, poverty, poor healthcare, out-of-school children, and the myriad of other problems daily afflicting the people of Nigeria.”

While cautioning against sensationalism and speculative reporting, the Obidient Movement reiterated its commitment to “politics that is progressive, standing firmly with the people, and serving the great people of Nigeria—not politics just for the sake of grabbing power.”

The movement also emphasised that while Mr Peter Obi remains in the Labour Party at this time, should there be any change, he would personally make the announcement, adding: “At this difficult time, all Nigerians, including the media, should focus on contributing to building a better country.”

Atiku’s spokesman, Ibe, stressed the importance of avoiding careless speculation, remarking: “A thing like this isn’t something you throw around carelessly.”

On the coalition efforts, he disclosed that Atiku and other prominent opposition figures are working diligently to form a unified platform aimed at delivering governance that serves the people.

He stated: “What I can officially confirm to you is that they’re working seriously with all the opposition leaders to build a very viable coalition platform. Some of the details are still under wraps, not yet public. But the process is ongoing, and change is going to happen sooner than later. When the coalition finally comes together and takes off, you can be sure people will get on board at multiple stations along the track. ”

Responding to concerns about the fate of the coalition in light of overt opposition from the PDP Governors’ Forum, Ibe stated: “Well, PDP governors are respected stakeholders. But Nigerians know what direction they want. That much is clear. Power truly belongs to the people. And the people are powering this coalition process. What does that tell you?”

ALSO, amid rumours of a possible coalition among opposition leaders to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027, Peter Obi said the only coalition he is interested in is the one against hunger, poverty, and the poor state of healthcare and education in Nigeria.

Obi, who visited the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Kubwa in Abuja yesterday, stressed that he was not desperate for any position.

He said, “I am in a coalition against hunger, in coalition against poverty, in coalition against the bad state of health. Politics for me is not about position; it is about doing the right thing.

“In this country we talk about politics and abandon what we should be talking about. What we should be talking about is how we are going to educate the children.”

Obi made the remarks in response to questions about reports of an alleged agreement with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to serve as his Vice President in the 2027 elections.

According to the report, Atiku had agreed to serve for only one term and was willing to formalise the agreement in writing.

Speaking at an event organised by the Anglican Church in Kubwa, Obi neither confirmed nor denied the existence of such an agreement but emphasised his commitment to the coalition’s mission.

He said, “You can make the report what you want, but I’m in a coalition against bad governance, hunger, and poverty.”