Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, and Labour Party’s Peter Obi are actively reflecting on the lessons learned from the last election.
This was revealed by Atiku’s spokesman, Paul Ibe, during an interview on Channels Television on Monday.
Ibe explained that both leaders recognize the importance of unity within the opposition and are engaging in discussions to ensure past mistakes are not repeated.
“There are ongoing discussions among political stakeholders to avoid repeating the same errors,” Ibe stated.
Ibe also dismissed claims suggesting that Peter Obi’s departure from the PDP was a key factor in Atiku’s loss in the 2023 election.
His comments came in response to a statement by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, who urged Northern politicians to allow President Bola Tinubu to serve two full terms, until 2031.
Akume suggested that there was a gentleman’s agreement in which Tinubu, as a Southerner, would hold office for eight years before any Northern politician, like Atiku, could aspire to succeed him.
Acknowledging that Atiku has long had presidential ambitions, Akume advised the former vice president to wait until 2031, suggesting it could be God’s will for him to pursue the presidency later in life.
However, Ibe responded by stating that Akume has no right to dictate the aspirations of any politician.
He stressed that Atiku, or any other individual, has the constitutional right to contest for the presidency, and that the All Progressives Congress (APC) must respect the freedom of association and expression.
Last month, both Atiku and Obi fueled speculation about the possibility of a united front in the 2027 presidential race.
Their meeting in Yola stirred discussions about a potential collaboration to challenge Tinubu in the upcoming election.
Obi was also the keynote speaker at the 20th anniversary of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), which is owned by Atiku, marking the institution’s 16th Founder’s Day celebration.
