Amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi, has dismissed the speculation making the rounds that he had a deal to be the running mate to the former vice president, Mr Atiku Abubakar.
Obi stated this yesterday during a visit to the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Kubwa in Abuja.
He said he was not desperate for any position, insisting that those saying he had an agreement to deputise anyone were playing politics of selfish ambition detrimental to the growth of the country.
However, he said: “The only coalition I am interested in is the one against hunger, poverty and the bad state of healthcare and education in the country. Politics for me is not about position; it is about doing the right thing.
“In this country we talk about politics and abandon what we should be talking about. What we should be talking about is how we are going to educate the children.”
According to the report, Atiku had agreed to serve for only one term and was willing to formalise the agreement in writing.
However, Obi who neither confirmed nor denied the existence of such a deal said: “You can make the report what you want, but I’m in a coalition against bad governance, hunger, and poverty.”
Similarly, Obi’s loyalists under the aegis of Obidient Movement dispelled the rumour that its principal would deputise Abubakar in the 2027 presidential election.
Spokesman for the Obedient Movement, Mr Nana Kazaure, who disclosed this in a statement said the Movement was aware of coalition talks with the LP leader but “Obidient Movement would like to state emphatically that there is no truth or basis to the reports whatsoever” of him as running mate to anyone.
“Even as we know that the publication is imaginary to the author, we are tempted not to ignore it because of the possible far-reaching misconception it will have in the public space.
“While frank and cordial engagements with our partners and stakeholders towards a coalition continue amicably, the Obidient Movement would like to state emphatically that there was no truth or basis to the reports whatsoever.
“Without any risk of contradiction, we would like to reiterate that Mr Obi has maintained that his objective and his involvement in a coalition, is to provide a united front against and to tackle issues of bad governance, corruption, hunger, poverty, poor healthcare, out of school children and the myriad other problems daily afflicting the people of Nigeria.
“We want politics that is progressive, standing firmly with the people and serving the great people of Nigeria and not politics just for the sake of grabbing power,” Kazaure said.
He added that Obi remains in the LP and “if ever this changes, he will make that announcement himself.”
Kazaure therefore advised against “sensationalism and speculation on these matters,” stressing that “at this difficult time, all Nigerians and the media, inclusive, should emphasise and contribute to building a better country.”
