Supporters of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi have reacted to ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s vow not to step aside for any aspirant in his bid for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ticket for the 2027 presidential race. The Obidient Movement dismissed Atiku’s stance as “mind games,” asserting that Obi will not engage in the vote-buying practices prevalent in Nigeria’s political primaries.
Dr. Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, emphasized that Obi’s political ideology is fundamentally different from the transactional politics normalized by other politicians. He stated, “An Obi will never go into a primary election where he has to buy out the delegates,” highlighting concerns over the common practice of purchasing delegates with foreign currency.
Atiku had expressed his intent to contest in the ADC primaries but indicated he would step aside for a younger candidate if defeated. He emphasized that establishing the party and building a strong following is the current priority.
Following Atiku’s interview, many political observers noted that defeating him in primaries would be challenging due to the nature of party delegates. Atiku’s media adviser later clarified that he never suggested he would step down for anyone, stating that he would support any young candidate emerging from a competitive primary.
The ADC, launched as a coalition platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027, has struggled to attract high-profile opposition figures like Obi. Despite some politicians crossing over, both Obi and former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai have remained with their respective parties for now.
