LIVE UPDATES
Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, has suggested the possibility of throwing his support behind his Labour Party counterpart from the last election, Peter Obi, in the upcoming 2027 election.
In an interview with BBC Hausa Service, Atiku hinted at his willingness to support Obi if he is chosen by the party for the presidential ticket.
This revelation comes amidst ongoing merger talks between Atiku and stakeholders of various opposition political parties.
Atiku's meeting with Obi behind closed doors recently fueled speculations about a potential merger of opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections. Confirming the move towards aligning opposition parties to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku emphasized the possibility of merging for a common goal.
"If the new party decides that it’s the turn of the South-East and Peter Obi is chosen, I won’t hesitate to support him," Atiku stated. He reiterated his commitment to abide by the decision of the party, emphasizing his readiness to support Obi if he emerges as the preferred candidate.
Atiku clarified that his decision to contest the 2023 presidential ticket was due to the open nature of the process within the PDP. However, he expressed his willingness to step aside if the party decides to zone the presidential ticket to the South or specifically to the South-East.
"I have said repeatedly that if PDP decides to zone the presidential ticket to the South or South-East specifically, I won’t contest it. As long as it is the decision of the party, I will abide by it," Atiku affirmed, highlighting his respect for the party's decisions.
