On Tuesday, the All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed any discussions about a potential merger between Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, and Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s standard-bearer in the same election.
The APC characterized both Atiku and Obi as desperate politicians who are not trustworthy with power. The APC expressed confidence that any meeting between these two opposition figures would not yield any significant results.
According to the APC, the meeting was driven by a mutual desperation to prevent President Bola Tinubu from securing a second term in office in 2027. Felix Morka, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, conveyed this stance in a statement released in Abuja.
The statement was titled “Atiku, Obi united by mutual desperation.” Morka emphasized that the APC sees no substance in the talks between Atiku and Obi. On May 13, Peter Obi visited Atiku at his residence in Abuja, and the meeting was conducted behind closed doors. Photographs of their visit circulated widely on social media.
Atiku later posted on his X handle, expressing his honor and privilege to host Peter Obi. On the same day, Obi also met with two senior members of the PDP: former Senate President Bukola Saraki and former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido. In the 2019 election, Atiku and Obi ran together on the PDP ticket but were defeated by Muhammadu Buhari, the APC candidate.
Ahead of the 2023 election, Obi left the PDP for the Labour Party, becoming its presidential candidate, while Atiku remained with the PDP. Both were ultimately defeated by President Tinubu of the APC. After the Supreme Court upheld Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 election, Atiku called for unity among major opposition parties and expressed his willingness to lead a coalition against Tinubu in the 2027 election.
Responding to the coalition plans on Tuesday, Felix Morka noted that the meeting between Atiku and Obi had intensified speculation about a possible alliance between them and their respective parties for the 2027 election. However, Morka questioned whether Obi would rejoin the PDP or if Atiku would leave the PDP for the Labour Party.
Morka remarked, “The news of Peter Obi’s return to the PDP would be hardly surprising. His reputation as a political wayfarer is only dwarfed by Atiku’s track record as a veteran political wanderer. News of Atiku joining the Labour Party will shock no one as he will be living up to his well-established reputation as the country’s most itinerant politician.
“He added that the hypothetical mega party proposed by Pat Utomi remains an illusion with no real prospects for accommodating both Atiku and Obi. Morka further accused Atiku and Obi of being united by their mutual desperation to become President of Nigeria and their disdain for President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to transforming the nation.
Morka argued that their frequent party-switching demonstrates their opportunistic nature and self-serving aspirations. He questioned their ability to handle national challenges, suggesting that individuals who cannot manage their own parties and flee at the first sign of internal strife cannot be trusted by Nigerians to tackle the country’s serious and complex political and economic issues.
In conclusion, Morka urged Nigerians to continue supporting the APC and President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to deliver a stronger, more secure, and prosperous nation. He asserted that the APC remains committed to its goals and criticized Atiku and Obi’s character, portraying them as unfit for national leadership.