The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has said any move to produce a single opposition candidate for the 2027 presidential election must be decided through negotiations between the political parties involved.
Obi made the position known while responding to questions about whether he would step down for the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, during an interview with Arise Television.
According to him, the issue can no longer be treated as a personal decision between him and Atiku because both politicians are now candidates of different political parties.
Obi explained that any possible arrangement would require the parties to negotiate how their political structures and candidates would come together.
He said the situation was now beyond two individuals deciding to work together, likening the process to two corporations seeking to merge.
The former Anambra State governor’s position comes amid renewed efforts by opposition politicians to build a united platform capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 election.
Obi and Atiku had previously worked together, with Obi serving as Atiku’s running mate on the Peoples Democratic Party platform in the 2019 presidential election. Their political paths later diverged, with Obi contesting the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party.
Both politicians were also part of the opposition coalition that adopted the ADC platform in 2025, but the coalition did not result in them contesting the 2027 election on the same platform.
While Obi has now emerged as the NDC presidential candidate and Atiku as the ADC candidate, speculation has continued over whether either politician could withdraw from the race to support the other.
However, Obi’s latest comments suggest that he considers the matter a broader political negotiation rather than a question of personally surrendering his presidential ambition to Atiku.
He also denied reports that he had previously rejected an offer to become Atiku’s running mate, saying he was not in a position where such an offer had been made to him.
Beyond the opposition alliance debate, Obi said he would retain the floating of the naira if elected president but would focus on boosting productivity to strengthen the value of the currency.
He also called on Nigerians to reject tribalism in the 2027 election and judge candidates based on their programmes and ability to deliver development.
