Amid growing speculation over a potential opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Obidient Movement has firmly dismissed claims that Peter Obi, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has been offered the position of vice-presidential running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by Nana Kazaure, the group’s Director of Strategic Communications and Media, the report was described as “entirely baseless” and “a product of the author’s imagination.”
“The Obidient Movement has received numerous enquiries from members at home and abroad, as well as from the general public, following a media report alleging that our principal, Peter Obi, has been offered a running mate position to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in a proposed 2027 coalition.
“Although the report is fictitious, we feel compelled to respond due to the potential for public misunderstanding,” the statement read.
‘Progress Over Power-Sharing’
While confirming that conversations with political stakeholders are ongoing, the movement clarified that these engagements are centred on tackling national issues—not political bargaining.
“Without fear of contradiction, we reaffirm that Mr Obi’s interest in any coalition is to unite efforts against bad governance, corruption, hunger, poverty, poor healthcare, out-of-school children, and other critical issues confronting Nigerians,” the statement continued.
“We advocate for politics that is progressive and people-centred, not politics motivated solely by the pursuit of power.”
The movement also reiterated Mr Obi’s unwavering commitment to the Labour Party: “As of now, Mr Peter Obi remains a member of the Labour Party. Should this ever change, he will make the announcement himself.”
‘A Coalition Against Poverty’
Earlier on Monday, during a visit to the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Kubwa in Abuja, Peter Obi echoed these sentiments, reaffirming his focus on issue-based politics.
“I am in a coalition against hunger, against poverty, and against poor health. Politics, for me, is not about personal ambition but about doing the right thing,” Obi said.
“In this country, we focus too much on political positions and neglect crucial discussions about how to educate our children.”
He dismissed reports of any agreement to serve as a running mate in 2027, branding them as examples of “self-serving political manoeuvres harmful to national progress.”
Obi, who came third in the 2023 presidential election behind President Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar, remains a prominent figure in Nigeria’s opposition politics. While many continue to speculate about a possible Obi–Atiku alliance, both the former governor and his supporters insist that their political engagements will always prioritise the public good over personal ambition.