Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi’s supporters have reacted to ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s vow not to move aside for any competitor in his bid to clinch the African Democratic Congress ticket for the 2027 presidential election.
The Obidient Movement, Obi’s followers, denounced Atiku’s stance as “mind games,” stressing that their leader would never get caught up in the murky politics of vote-buying or dollarized delegate inducement that dominate Nigeria’s political party primaries.
Dr. Yunusa Tanko, the group’s National Coordinator and former campaign spokesman, told The PUNCH that Obi’s political vision contrasted sharply with the transactional politics that other politicians had normalized.
He said, “I’m happy Atiku is saying what he has in mind. It shows there’s something we can hold him accountable for. But Peter Obi is willing to bring new political ideology into the system.
“I can say it authoritatively that an Obi will never go into a primary election where he has to buy out the delegates. We know that is the norm in other camps.
“It is a fact that in Nigeria of today, delegates in every primary are being purchased. It is even in dollars and not naira. And for those of us who want to give hope to the younger generation, who may not have stolen or received so much money from the governors’ purse, how do you encourage them?”
In an interview with BBC Hausa on Wednesday, Atiku stated that he was willing to run in the ADC presidential primary but would step down if he was defeated by a younger candidate.
The former vice president said it was too early to say whether he will be on the ballot in 2027.
“This is only the beginning. Our priority is to establish the party and gain a strong following,” Atiku said when asked if he would run.
“If I run for office, and a young man defeats me, I will accept that. The party we have joined now prioritizes youth and women,” he added.
2027: Atiku denies plan to step for anyone
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When asked if there were suspicions that he could abandon the ADC later, Atiku dismissed such insinuations.
“No, I’m not known for that,” he said, shaking his head. “If I say so, then I’ll go that way,” he added, gesturing with his hand that he was “a man of one Qibla.”
The interview produced a rippling effect in the political realm, with many arguing that Atiku should not run in 2027 and instead support a younger candidate.
Shehu Sani, a former Kaduna Central senator, responded to Atiku’s declaration, saying it would be tough for any candidate to defeat him if he made it to any party primaries.
Sani expressed his concerns in a message on his official X handle on Thursday.
He wrote, “His Excellency the Waziri reportedly said he would step aside if a younger candidate wins the primaries… The keyword here is primaries… It’s easier for a camel to pass through the hole of a needle than to beat the Waziri in primaries. Party delegates are a special breed of people.”
A few hours after the BBC Hausa story got steam, Atiku’s communications assistant, Paul Ibe, issued a statement emphasizing that the vice president has no plans to step aside for anyone.
Ibe added that a thorough examination of both the video and transcripts of the interview revealed that Atiku never stated, hinted, or inferred that he intended to resign for anyone.
He said, “After a thorough review of both the video and transcripts of the interview, in the original Hausa and the English translation, it is evident that at no point did the former vice president expressly state, suggest, or even imply that he intends to step down for anyone.
“What Atiku Abubakar clearly and unambiguously said was that young people, as well as other prospective presidential aspirants, are free to enter the contest. He further stressed that if a young candidate were to emerge through a competitive primary, he would readily support such a candidate without any hesitation.
“While interpretative journalism is a legitimate aspect of reporting, stretching interpretation to the point of mischief is unacceptable and must not be encouraged.
“For the record, therefore, the insinuations attributed to Waziri Adamawa from his BBC Hausa interview are inaccurate and do not reflect what he actually said.”
The ADC, which was introduced in July as a coalition platform to oppose President Bola Tinubu in 2027, has struggled to formally recruit opposition stalwarts such as Obi, former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and former Atiku Abubakar.
While several lawmakers have since crossed over, Obi and El-Rufai have remained in their respective parties despite their alignment with the alliance.
Obi stated that he will not be pressured into departing the Labour Party for the ADC until he is totally prepared.
