- Peter Obi had described Atiku Abubakar as a respected leader while reacting to his 2027 remarks
- He reaffirmed his intention to contest for president in the next election
- Obi insisted that only a transparent and credible primary process would earn his acceptance
Former Anambra State governor and presidential hopeful, Peter Obi, has reacted to recent remarks by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar regarding his potential final presidential bid in 2027, urging caution while emphasising the importance of due process in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Speaking during an appearance on the Naija Unfiltered podcast on Saturday, Obi described Atiku as a respected leader and elder brother, signalling a tone of deference despite the underlying political implications of the statement.
“At this point, we are not at that stage yet. Atiku is my respected leader and my dear elder brother,” Obi said. “His statement, I will always say, is a statement of a leader, and look at what he used — ‘if’.”
Obi noted that political developments remain fluid, cautioning against drawing firm conclusions about future events. He reaffirmed his own presidential ambition, making it clear that he intends to contest in the next general election.
“So we can’t say what will happen about tomorrow. I can only tell you I am contesting in the election for the office of the president,” he added.
Addressing the possibility of party agreements following primaries, Obi stressed that his acceptance of any outcome would depend entirely on the credibility and transparency of the process. He reiterated concerns about internal party practices, referencing past experiences that influenced his political decisions.
“I accept what happens after it if it’s through a transparent process you can call fair and credible,” he said. “I’ve said it before — I left parties because I found the whole process transactional.”
The former governor underscored that the legitimacy of leadership begins with the process that produces it, arguing that flawed procedures ultimately undermine governance and public trust.
“It’s critical that the process through which people come into office is far more fundamental than what they do after,” Obi stated.
Using a vivid metaphor to drive home his point, he warned against circumventing established procedures in the pursuit of power.
“You cannot jump into the house through the window and start cleaning the house and expect everybody to accept you. The process must be right,” he added.
Obi’s remarks come amid ongoing political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general election, with discussions intensifying around party alignments, candidacies, and the broader direction of Nigeria’s democracy.
“I’m not stepping down,” Atiku fires back at 2027 withdrawal claims
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had dismissed claims that he had withdrawn from the 2027 presidential race, describing the reports as false and misleading.
Atiku said the rumours suggesting he had stepped away from active politics were part of a “coordinated disinformation campaign” aimed at discrediting him.
PoliticsHe also refuted claims of a national-level meeting with African Democratic Congress stakeholders, claiming that his only recent engagement was with ADC members in Adamawa State.