The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has disclosed why he cannot step down for his counterpart from the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2027 elections.
Obi explained that, at the current stage of politicking, such a decision would be for the political parties and not the individuals involved.
He disclosed this during an interview with Arise Television aired on Thursday, where he spoke on national issues.
Asked if he would be willing to step down for Atiku, Obi said: “Do you know where we are now? Where we are now is that I’m a candidate, my leader Atiku is a candidate of another party, so you are talking about two parties coming together; it’s no longer me or him as you are now talking about parties coming together.
“All those parties have candidates, so it’s no longer me as Peter talking. It’s like a situation where you have two corporations coming together; it’s no longer two CEOs going for a drink and saying we are going to work together. It’s not me saying I don’t want to be this or that; no, we have passed that stage.”
In 2023, Obi ran with Atiku for the presidency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but they eventually lost.
In preparation for the 2027 presidential election, the former Anambra State governor was reportedly urged to team up with Atiku for the presidency again.
However, Obi was said to have rejected the offer to run with Atiku for the presidency.
Obi had said: “My statement was unequivocal, and I am genuinely surprised by the misrepresentation of my words. For the avoidance of doubt, I never stated at any time that I would be vice president to anyone and it’s unequivocal.”
Reaffirming his stance, the NDC presidential candidate maintained that he has never been in any party where he was offered the opportunity to be Atiku’s running mate and refused it.
He said: “Who said so? Where? I wasn’t even in any party where that offer was on the table. I wasn’t even in a position where it was being offered and I refused.”