The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has rejected suggestions that he should withdraw from the 2027 presidential race to support former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, insisting that he would not surrender the aspirations of millions of Nigerians for an elite political arrangement.
Mr Obi’s position comes amid renewed efforts by opposition groups, particularly the G-100, to produce a consensus presidential candidate capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress in 2027.
The former Anambra State governor argued that his decision to remain in the race was not simply about his personal ambition.
He maintained that stepping down because political leaders had agreed on another candidate would amount to disregarding the expectations of Nigerians who support his political movement.
His position is consistent with the broader stance of his camp, which has previously rejected suggestions that he should accept a subordinate position on an opposition ticket led by Atiku.
G-100 pushes for consensus candidate
The G-100, a coalition of political groups and stakeholders, has been pushing opposition parties to agree on a single presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 election.
The group recently held a summit involving opposition parties and said consultations were ongoing to arrive at a consensus candidate.
A member of the G-100, Ambassador Umanu Elijah, said the group hoped to reach an agreement by 30 September and subsequently seek the support of other presidential candidates and political parties.
He said, “We have not adopted a single candidate yet, but that is the goal.”
Atiku also remains in the race
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has similarly maintained his presidential ambition.
An ally of Atiku said the former vice-president remained open to dialogue but was determined to contest the 2027 election.
The source argued that Atiku had been central to the opposition coalition that eventually adopted the ADC as its platform and therefore remained a strong contender for the presidential ticket.
The refusal of major opposition figures to step down has complicated efforts to establish a single presidential ticket.
Apart from Mr Obi and Atiku, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement, has also maintained that he is in the race to win.
The APM National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, said the party was still participating in the G-100 discussions but that Mr Makinde had not withdrawn his candidacy.
Other opposition parties, including the Action Democratic Party and Democratic Leadership Alliance, have also rejected calls for their candidates to step down.
The disagreement highlights one of the biggest challenges facing Nigeria’s opposition ahead of the 2027 election: how to combine different political ambitions into a single platform capable of mounting a strong challenge to the APC.
While opposition leaders agree on the need for greater cooperation, they remain divided over who should lead the proposed alliance.
For now, Mr Obi, Atiku and Mr Makinde remain in the race, meaning the push for a consensus candidate is far from settled.
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