Atiku, Obi, Opposition Candidates Reject Pressure to Step Down From 2027 Race

The opposition’s push for a single presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 election is facing resistance, with several leading contenders insisting they remain in the race and are not prepared to withdraw for another aspirant.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde have all maintained their presidential ambitions as consultations continue among opposition groups seeking to build a common front against the ruling All Progressives Congress and President Bola Tinubu.

The development has created uncertainty around the G-100 Alliance’s plan to produce a consensus candidate from the opposition camp before the September 30 deadline set by the group.

The G-100, a coalition of political groups and stakeholders, recently held a summit at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, bringing together representatives of six opposition parties. The meeting was part of efforts to deepen cooperation among opposition politicians and determine whether they could rally behind one presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

A member of the group, Ambassador Umanu Elijah, said the process was still ongoing and expressed confidence that an agreement would eventually be reached.

“We had our first summit recently in Abuja with the opposition political parties and their presidential candidates. It is important to note that this is a gradual process. We have not adopted a single candidate yet, but that is the goal,” Elijah said.

He pointed to a recent meeting between Obi and Makinde as evidence that discussions were continuing across party lines.

“Recall that yesterday (Monday), Mr Peter Obi visited the Allied Peoples’ Movement presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde. This is the conversation the G-100 is driving. Meetings are going on behind the scenes, and I am sure that before the end of this month, we would have settled on a consensus candidate that we will ask other candidates and parties to support. This is the situation for now,” he added.

However, the position of some of the major candidates suggests that reaching such an agreement may prove difficult.

Although Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, declined to comment, an ally of the former Vice-President said Atiku was not against political cooperation but remained committed to contesting the presidential election.

The ally argued that Atiku had already played a major role in the formation of the African Democratic Congress as the platform for the opposition coalition.

“Those who are now talking about coalition and alliance are only beginning to realise that Atiku is ahead of them. He thought about this quite a long time ago and came up with the idea. He did not just stop there; political stakeholders from across the country and different political parties were consulted, and that is why we have the ADC today,” the source said.

According to the ally, Atiku remained willing to engage other political leaders, but would not abandon his presidential ambition.

“Of course, as a statesman, he is open to discussions. Atiku has been engaging with any leaders who meet with him, so he remains open to dialogue. But Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is going to contest the 2027 election,” the source stated.

The source added that supporters of other political parties who believed Atiku was best positioned to challenge Tinubu could still rally behind him.

Makinde’s camp has also made it clear that the Oyo State governor is not participating in the election merely to negotiate his way out of the contest.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Allied Peoples’ Movement, Abubakar Yusuf, said the party’s candidate was running with the intention of winning and had not agreed to step aside for any other opposition figure.

“The Governor of Oyo State, who is the flag bearer of our party, is not in the race to take Nigerians for a ride, or for a joke, comedy or fun. He is in the race to win. He is contesting to win the 2027 election,” Yusuf said.

He acknowledged that talks were taking place among opposition stakeholders but maintained that there was no basis for assuming that Makinde would be the candidate to withdraw.

“Yes, we know we have stakeholders in the G-100, but of course, discussions are ongoing. What makes you think Makinde will not be adopted as the consensus candidate? For now, all I can tell you is that His Excellency, the Oyo State Governor and candidate of our party, is in the contest to win. He has not stepped down for anybody,” he said.

Obi’s Nigeria Democratic Congress is similarly keeping its options open while defending the former Anambra governor’s prospects in the opposition race.

The NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said the party was prepared to participate in discussions on a common candidate but insisted that such discussions did not mean Obi had surrendered his ambition.

“Our party, in line with the Nigerian Constitution, has the right to associate with any individual member, group or association in the country. It is in exercising this right that you see our candidate associating with other candidates across party lines,” Director said.

He explained that cooperation among opposition parties could strengthen their chances without necessarily making Obi less competitive.

“As a party, it is part of our principle that there is a need for us to come together. However, coming together does not mean that we do not have what it takes to win the election. Our presidential candidate is a popular and credible candidate,” he said.

Director added that the NDC was already participating in conversations about a consensus candidate and believed Obi had a strong case to emerge from such an arrangement.

“NDC is ready to participate in discussions about a single candidate for the opposition parties. We are ready and are already participating in discussions about the need to have a consensus candidate or a single candidate, especially because we believe that our candidate is one of the best among all the other aspirants and has a strong chance of emerging as the consensus candidate,” he stated.

Beyond Atiku, Obi and Makinde, other opposition candidates have also rejected the idea that they should automatically withdraw to create room for a consensus candidate.

African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore was particularly critical of the single-candidate proposal, arguing that simply combining opposition politicians without agreeing on an ideology and governing programme would not solve Nigeria’s problems.

“I do not subscribe to the idea that Nigeria’s problem can be solved simply by gathering opposition politicians together and producing a so-called ‘single candidate.’ The real question is: united around what?” Sowore said.

He argued that an opposition alliance should be built around a clearly defined programme rather than solely around the objective of defeating the APC.

“A single candidate without a common ideology, a clear programme and a commitment to fundamentally change Nigeria is merely another elite arrangement designed to change the occupants of power while preserving the system that has failed our people,” he said.

Sowore therefore ruled out stepping aside simply because other opposition politicians reached an agreement without his movement’s participation in determining the basis of the alliance.

“So, would I step down simply because some opposition politicians approached me and said they had agreed on a single candidate? No. I would not surrender the aspirations of millions of Nigerians for an elite political arrangement,” he said.

The Democratic Leadership Alliance has also rejected the proposal. Its presidential campaign spokesperson, Tosin Odeyemi, said the party had no intention of withdrawing its candidate.

“No. We don’t subscribe to a single presidential candidate and our candidate won’t be stepping down,” Odeyemi said.

The Young Progressives Party presidential candidate, Peter Agada, adopted a more conditional position, saying he could consider a consensus arrangement if it was built around a clear political ideology and development agenda.

“Available only if driven by ideology, a development framework and architecture that takes power to the wards, plus ramp up the micro-economy the way the macro economy is right now,” Agada said.

The Action Democratic Party also rejected the prospect of surrendering its presidential ticket. Its National Chairman, Yabbagi Sani, said the party had its own candidate, policies and manifesto and would not withdraw for another aspirant.

“The ADP has its own presidential candidate. Elections are about interests, so how do you align the interests of multiple individuals and political parties within the shortest possible time? We have our policies, programmes and manifesto,” Sani said.

“Our candidate is not stepping down for anybody. Rather, we will appreciate and welcome those who are ready to step down and work for our candidate,” he added.