The three leading opposition figures are discussing the possibility of merging to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election.
This development was revealed by Ibrahim Abdullahi, the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) spokesperson, during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program on Monday.
Abdullahi disclosed that the talks involve PDP’s Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
The trio, who were among the top contenders in the 2023 presidential election, are reportedly considering setting aside personal ambitions to form a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In the 2023 presidential election, APC’s Bola Tinubu won with 8,794,726 votes. Atiku Abubakar came in second with 6,984,520 votes, followed by Obi with 6,101,533 votes, while Kwankwaso finished fourth with 1,496,687 votes.
Abdullahi noted that the opposition leaders are willing to sacrifice their individual ambitions to recover Nigerians from hunger and widespread insecurity.
“One of them would concede for the other and then we would have a direction. Our concern as a party and to these people that I have mentioned is to ensure that we salvage Nigerians from this despair and despondency, between maladies of hunger and frightening insecurity in the land. You could see cluelessness and ineptitude on the part of these people managing this country,” Abdullahi stated.
“Atiku is saying if it is better for him to get Nigeria out of this hopelessness, he would do so. He (Atiku) must not be in the race. Atiku is saying that it is an entitlement to him as a democrat; the constitution provides for him that he could contest at any time.
“I am telling you clearly: Peter Obi is suitably qualified; he can aspire and we will support him if he gets the ticket. Atiku is suitably qualified and if he gets the ticket, we will rally behind him and give him the desired support to salvage Nigerians out of this situation.”
When asked if the PDP is trying to reintegrate Obi, Kwankwaso, Wike, and others, Abdullahi responded, saying “You will see Peter Obi discussing with Atiku, you will see Peter Obi meeting with (Nasir) El-Rufai. Party management is a very difficult thing and we are doing the best in the quagmire that we have found ourselves. Rest assured, there would light at the end of the tunnel. We have learnt our lessons in a bitter way.”
