Fatimah Otunsanya
Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate , Peter Obi, has refuted growing speculation that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar may hijack the African Democratic Congress’ presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obi, who spoke in an interview with Sunday PUNCH during his recent visit to LEA Primary School, Kapwa, Abuja, said he had no fear about Atiku’s political moves, describing him instead as a “dear elder brother and respected leader.”
The speculation follows reports that Atiku’s loyalists from the Peoples Democratic Party have been defecting to the ADC coalition.
This development unsettled Obi’s supporters and triggered fears of a looming takeover.
Adding to the discourse, former Kaduna Central lawmaker, Shehu Sani, in a post on his X handle, cautioned that it would be “difficult for any aspirant to defeat Atiku if he makes it to any party primaries.”
But Obi, brushing off the fears, maintained that the emerging coalition was about national rescue, not rivalry.