Africa-Press – Nigeria. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and other political heavyweights like Peter Obi, and a former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai are in talks over plans to float a coalition ahead of the 2027 election.
Atiku’s spokesman, Paul Ibe, disclosed this on Thursday while answering questions on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
Ibe also confirmed speculations of a planned coalition to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
“Well, you and I know that there have been ongoing discussions between Atiku Abubakar and some opposition leaders: Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai.
“Yes, it’s out there in the open. Discussion is still ongoing, and at the end of that discussion, they will come out with a position and the direction that we’re going to follow based on the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians,” Ibe said.
DAILY POST recalls that in 2019, Atiku and Obi contested under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the presidential election, when the ex-vice president was the party’s candidate then.
They lost the election to former president Muhammadu Buhari of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The two heavyweights are speculated to fly the same ticket in the next presidential election.
When asked if both men would be on the same ticket, Ibe said:
“What I’m saying, in effect, is that that ticket was viable in 2019, and it’s still viable today.
“But it is left to the individuals to be able to come to a determination as to how they proceed. So, let us not go ahead of them. They are talking.”
Talks about a coalition have gathered steam in the country owing to what many attribute to the crisis rocking the major opposition PDP and other parties.
The two-time Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai El-Rufai, earlier this year, dumped the All Progressives Congress, APC, citing several personal and political reasons.
El-Rufai then teamed up with the Social Democratic Party, SDP, a platform many touted to host the coalition.
The Labour Party, LP, presidential flag bearer in the 2023 election, Peter Obi has, however, clarified his involvement in the coalition.
He insists he is interested in a coalition against poverty and other vices affecting Nigeria.
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