Former Anambra State Governor and presidential aspirant under the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has dismissed suggestions that he is avoiding former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obi made the clarification on Friday in Cape Town, South Africa, during the Spier Dialogue 2026, a pan African governance forum, where he addressed questions about his political relationships and coalition dynamics.
He said there was no personal rift between him and Atiku, describing the former vice president as a respected elder and political associate.
“There are very few human beings who are as close as I am to Atiku. So I can’t be running from him. This man is my very respected leader and elder brother,” Obi said.
“I don’t run from him. Never. It has nothing to do with running from anybody. I’ve never run from anybody. I just believe that I do things differently,” he added.
The comments come amid renewed political speculation over the state of opposition alliances ahead of the 2027 presidential election, especially following the collapse of earlier coalition arrangements involving both men.
Obi and Atiku had previously aligned under the African Democratic Congress platform as part of a broader opposition coalition aimed at challenging President Bola Tinubu. Obi formally joined the ADC on January 1, 2026, with Atiku welcoming the move as a major step in opposition realignment.
However, the alliance later broke down following internal disagreements and disputes over party direction. Obi eventually left the coalition, citing unresolved internal conflicts and persistent legal distractions that he said were hindering effective political focus.
He later joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress alongside former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, while stressing the need for a more le and issue driven political platform ahead of the next election cycle.
Despite the shifting alliances, Obi maintained that his relationship with Atiku remains cordial and rooted in mutual respect.
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