Atiku, Obi, and Kwankwaso in Talks for Potential Merger Ahead of 2027 Presidential Election

Three key opposition leaders in Nigeria—Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso—are reportedly in discussions about forming a potential merger in preparation for the 2027 presidential election.

The goal of this alliance is to challenge and unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government, currently led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

This development comes amid widespread public dissatisfaction over rising hunger and insecurity in the country, according to a spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday.

Ibrahim Abdullahi, the deputy national spokesman for the PDP, revealed the ongoing discussions during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program.

He stated that the three opposition figures from the last presidential election—Atiku of the PDP, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP)—are willing to set aside their personal ambitions to form a strong coalition that could pose a serious challenge to the APC in 2027. Their shared aim is to “rescue Nigerians from hunger.”

Abdullahi noted that if the PDP had effectively handled internal conflicts in the past, prominent figures like former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, Kwankwaso, and Obi might have remained with the party. This could have bolstered their chances against President Tinubu in the last election.

“We’ve lost Kwankwaso, we’ve lost Peter Obi—all of these people. Imagine if they had stayed with the party; we would have won the elections,” Abdullahi said. “This APC claims they defeated us by a margin of just over one million votes. Any one of these leaders could have bridged that gap for us, and we would have been in power today, preventing the current state of despair and hopelessness in the country.”

When asked if the PDP is working to bring back Obi, Kwankwaso, Wike, and others, Abdullahi confirmed ongoing discussions. “You will see Peter Obi discussing with Atiku, you will see Peter Obi meeting with (Nasir) El-Rufai. Party management is a challenging task, and we are navigating the complexities of our current situation. But rest assured, there will be light at the end of the tunnel. We have learned our lessons in a difficult way,” he said.

Abdullahi further suggested that one of the leaders might yield to another, paving the way for a unified direction for the coalition.

“Our priority as a party, and for these individuals I mentioned, is to rescue Nigerians from this state of despair and insecurity. The current administration’s handling of these issues shows a lack of competence,” he remarked.

Abdullahi emphasized that resolving the nation’s current challenges is more critical than the personal ambitions of any individual within the potential coalition.

“Atiku has said that if stepping aside would benefit the country, he would do so. He believes that it is his democratic right to contest, but he is not imposing his candidacy on the party or the country,” Abdullahi explained. “Similarly, Peter Obi is qualified to run, and if he secures the ticket, we will support him. The same applies to Atiku; if he gets the ticket, we will rally behind him to help lift Nigerians out of the current situation.”

The discussions among these prominent opposition leaders reflect their shared commitment to addressing the pressing issues facing Nigeria, as they consider forming a unified front to challenge the current administration in the next presidential election.