PHOTO CREDIT: Original photo as published by The Sun Nigeria / Arise TV (from the original report)
2027: Peter Obi Says He Never Rejected Atiku’s VP Slot
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has dismissed reports claiming he turned down an offer to serve as running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Obi clarified that no such offer was ever made to him.

He made the clarification during an interview on Arise TV while speaking on the possibility of an alliance among opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general election.

Obi explained that in 2025, he, Atiku and other opposition leaders had formed a coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), but the coalition later split. Obi later emerged as the presidential flagbearer of the NDC, while Atiku became the presidential candidate of the ADC.

Responding to whether he would step down for Atiku or accept a vice-presidential slot in the interest of an alliance, Obi said the conversation has gone beyond individual ambitions.
“I’m a candidate, yes. So, my leader, Atiku, is a candidate of another party. I am a candidate for another party. So, you are talking about two parties coming together; it is no longer him or me,” he said.
According to him, any alliance talks must be party-to-party negotiations and not just an agreement between two individuals.
“All those parties have candidates. So, it is a discussion… It is like a situation where two corporations are trying to come together. It is no longer something the two CEOs go to a drink and say we are going to work together,” he added.
Obi also denied reports that he had vowed never to accept a VP position.
“I don’t know where that was said. I wasn’t even in a position where that was being offered, and I refused,” he stated.
It would be recalled that Obi was Atiku’s running mate in the 2019 presidential election under the PDP, before both men contested separately in 2023 — Obi on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) and Atiku on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Obi added that he remains open to any coalition that prioritizes national unity, rule of law, accountable leadership, education, healthcare and job creation.
“I want to be part of any coalition that will make Nigeria work. That will make Nigeria productive,” he said.
SOURCE: The Sun Nigeria –