Dispelling fears of an implosion in main opposition coalition African Democratic Congress (ADC) if any other candidate, including Mr Peter Obi, wins the party’s presidential ticket for 2027, former Vice-President (VP) Atiku Abubakar has said he will back Obi.
Abubakar, popularly known as Atiku,
expressed his willingness to step aside for Obi if the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate emerges the ADC presidential candidate.
Whoever wins the primary will most likely square off against President Bola Tinubu, who was declared elected in 2023 on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and is strongly believed to be in the running for re-election next year.
During an interview on Arise News on Wednesday evening, Atiku was asked directly whether he would step aside if Obi wins the ADC presidential primary.
Atiku and Obi are regarded as the front runners for ADC’s presidential ticket.
Obi recently struck a strategic alliance with former governor of Kano State, Engr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who is expected to be his running mate.
A video showcasing Obi’s recent visit to Kwankwaso in Kano confirmed this, with a mammoth crowd of Kwankwaso’s supporters publicly rooting for the ticket.
With the Presidency still zoned to the Southern part of Nigeria till 2031 when it reverts to the North, should Obi clinch the ticket and possibly win the election, he can only do one term –with the ex-Anambra governor confirming that he will do just one term before handing over to the North for its two terms.
During the interview, asked if he would step down for Obi, Atiku said: “Yes, I will step aside for any winner.”
Asked if “any winner includes Peter Obi”, Atiku responded: “Of course, if he is a contender, why not?”
Pressed further if it would not be difficult for him to do so as Obi was his vice presidential running mate in 2019, Atiku said: “What is difficult there? It is democracy.
“It is either you go through consensus or you go through election. You emerge through consensus or emerge through the electoral process.”
*PHOTO CAPTION: Atiku (r) and Obi in a warm handshake at a public function.
