Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi has ruled out stepping down for African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Obi said any opposition alliance must now be negotiated between their political parties. Obi said their emergence as candidates of separate parties had moved the matter beyond an individual agreement between the two politicians.
Speaking during an interview with Arise Television aired on Thursday, the former Anambra State governor explained that a possible collaboration would require broader negotiations involving the structures and candidates of the parties concerned.
His position comes amid continuing speculation over whether opposition forces could unite behind a single candidate to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2027.
Obi compared such negotiations to a merger between two corporations, arguing that the leaders could not simply reach a private agreement without considering their respective organisations.
He maintained that discussions about either candidate withdrawing must therefore take place within a wider political arrangement rather than being presented as a personal decision by him or Atiku.
The two politicians previously contested together on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket in the 2019 presidential election, with Atiku as presidential candidate and Obi as his running mate. Their paths diverged before the 2023 election when Obi left the PDP and contested under the Labour Party, while Atiku remained the PDP candidate.
They later participated with other opposition figures in a coalition that adopted the ADC as its platform in 2025, but ultimately emerged as presidential candidates of different parties for 2027.
Asked whether he would accept the vice-presidential position in a possible arrangement with Atiku, Obi rejected claims that he had previously turned down such an offer. He said he had not been in a situation where the position was formally offered to him and subsequently rejected.
Beyond opposition politics, Obi said he would retain the floating exchange-rate system introduced under the Tinubu administration if elected president but would seek to strengthen the naira by expanding domestic productivity.
He argued that increasing production, agriculture, exports, and investment would provide stronger support for the currency and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imports.
Obi also warned against allowing ethnicity to determine the outcome of the 2027 election, insisting that Nigerians should assess candidates based on their programmes and ability to govern.
Addressing concerns about his relationship with northern Nigeria, he said he remained committed to the region’s development and identified agriculture as an important opportunity for expanding the country’s economic base beyond oil.
The NDC candidate further criticised Nigerian presidents for spending holidays abroad, saying the country’s leader should remain within Nigeria during vacation periods and use the opportunity to engage citizens.
He suggested visits to states including Zamfara, Borno and Anambra, arguing that security challenges should not prevent the President from spending time in different parts of the country.
Obi also called for longer presidential visits to communities affected by insecurity and other crises. Rather than brief official appearances, he said the President should spend several days engaging residents, traditional rulers, state officials and other stakeholders to better understand local challenges and demonstrate stronger connection with Nigerians.
