2027: Obi Denies Rift With Atiku, Says He’s Not Avoiding Former VP

Former Anambra State governor and presidential hopeful under the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi has dismissed claims that he is avoiding former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Obi made the remarks on Friday in Cape Town, South Africa, during activities surrounding the Spier Dialogue 2026, a forum focused on governance issues across Africa. His reaction came amid growing public discussion about the state of his political relationship with Atiku following recent developments within opposition politics.

According to Obi, his relationship with Atiku remains cordial and longstanding. He described the former vice president as someone he respects deeply and maintained that there was no reason for him to avoid political engagement with him. He added that his political decisions are usually based on his personal approach to leadership and public service rather than individual differences.

The clarification follows months of political changes involving both figures. Obi and Atiku had previously aligned under the platform of the African Democratic Congress as part of efforts to build a stronger opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 election.

Obi officially joined the ADC in January 2026, a move that attracted attention across the political space and was initially welcomed by Atiku as part of broader coalition efforts.

However, the alliance later broke apart after internal disagreements within the party. Obi later explained that his exit was not linked to personal disagreements with Atiku or the party leadership but was connected to internal disputes and ongoing legal battles that, in his view, shifted attention away from national issues.

After leaving the ADC, Obi teamed up with Rabiu Kwankwaso and both politicians moved to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, where they called for a political environment less affected by internal litigation and prolonged party conflicts.

Obi’s latest remarks appear aimed at separating political decisions from personal relationships as preparations and alignments ahead of the 2027 elections continue to unfold.