Rumors of a potential political alliance between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have been denied by representatives from both camps.
The speculation arose after images of Atiku hosting Obi for breakfast at his residence in Adamawa State went viral. This caused speculations about a possible joint bid for the 2027 presidential election.
On Saturday, Atiku took to his official X account to share a brief video of the meeting, captioning it, “It is breakfast time with my friend, #PeterObi, in the ‘land of beauty.’” The video depicted the two political figures seated alongside others at a dining table, appearing relaxed as they shared a meal.
The footage quickly set social media ablaze, with users speculating that the reunion was politically motivated. The rumors were fueled by recent statements from the Deputy National Spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ibrahim Abdullahi, who suggested on a televised program that leading opposition figures, including Atiku, Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), were considering a merger to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
Paul Ibe, the spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar, swiftly addressed the speculation, saying that the breakfast meeting was simply a reunion between old friends and not a precursor to any political alliance.
“Let us not jump to conclusions,” Ibe stated. “The reality is that Obi accepted an invitation to be the keynote speaker at the 20th-anniversary celebration of the American University of Nigeria (AUN) and the 16th Founder’s Day, a significant milestone. As the founder of the university, Atiku Abubakar acted as his host. This meeting was about friendship and shared commitment to education, not politics.”
He further explained that the breakfast was a casual gathering before the official event and noted that people often misinterpret interactions between prominent political figures. “Politics should not overshadow personal relationships. Atiku and Obi have a longstanding friendship that predates any political differences,” Ibe added.
Peter Obi’s media aide, Ibrahim Umar, also dismissed the speculation, calling it baseless and reflective of a tendency to politicize every interaction involving high-profile individuals.
“There’s no truth to the notion that this meeting was about a joint ticket or any political alliance for 2027,” Umar said. “Obi was merely invited to deliver a speech at the university’s anniversary celebration. It is laughable that people would attach political undertones to what was essentially an academic event.”
Umar reiterated that while Obi values collaboration in addressing national issues, the breakfast meeting was unrelated to any political ambitions. “Obi respects Atiku as a friend and colleague but has no plans at this time to discuss or form a ticket for 2027,” he added.
