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Merger looms as Atiku and Obi meet for the first time after losing to Tinubu in 2023 election

Published

2 months ago

May 14, 2024

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi have met for the first time after losing their bids to rule the country in the 2023 election to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Atiku confirmed the meeting in a post on his X handle saying; “It was my honour and privilege to host @PeterObi today.”

The development suggested the Labour Party and PDP will form a formidable alliance to unseat Tinubu in 2027. Also, New Nigeria Peoples Party (PDP) might join the alliance.

It was my honour and privilege to host @PeterObi today. -AA pic.twitter.com/JRlE2Ec52D
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) May 13, 2024

Recall that a political economist, Professor Pat Utomi, in an interview with Channels TV had confirmed that three presidential candidates in the last election, Atiku Abubakar, his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP have agreed to form a formidable party that will sack the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

Utomi, a staunch supporter of Peter Obi said after having a conversation with the trio, he agreed to form a mega party that would take over the country’s leadership, saying Nigerians need people who would make sacrifices for the development of the nation.

He said, “We need people who sacrifice themselves to build a great country with the possible reward of immortality. When I talked to several of the presidential candidates in the last run about this track, we were travelling.

“Yes, I’ve had conversations with Atiku Abubakar, I’ve had conversations with Engineer Rabiu Kwankwaso, I have had conversations with Peter Gregory Obi, and people like Ralph Okey Nwosu of ADC are some of those that would probably constitute some of the base.

“And I’ve said to them, it’s not about you. It’s about Nigeria, it’s about the ordinary person in this state. It’s about genuinely moving from this business of sharing trickles from oil sales to how we can become one of the most productive economies because our (natural) endowments allow that. Still, our politics has not allowed Nigerian people to produce”.

It was said that unresolved disputes among the main opposition party’s leaders, PDP, handed an advantage for Tinubu Tinubu to win the last election.

Peter Obi who eventually became the third force election was a member of the party until a few weeks before its primary. Obi was also a running mate to Atiku in the 2019 election.

Meanwhile, Peter Obi has said he isn’t going to leave the Labour Party to join any party.

Obi speaking on April 7, 2024, in Gombe State shortly after donating a borehole to the ram market in Tike Pantami said; ““No, there is no such thing. I’m for peace, I like peace. I believe we are one people. Our concentration should be on peace, and I believe we will resolve all situations.”