Former Anambra governor reaffirms close ties with ex-VP despite collapsed ADC coalition and shifting opposition alliances ahead of 2027

Former Anambra State Governor and 2027 presidential hopeful, Peter Obi, has firmly dismissed claims that he is steering clear of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, as political realignments gather pace ahead of the next general election.

Speaking on Friday in Cape Town, South Africa, during the Spier Dialogue 2026—a leading pan-African forum on governance—Obi described suggestions of a rift between him and Atiku as unfounded.

“There are very few people as close to Atiku as I am,” Obi said. “I cannot be running from him. He remains a respected leader and an elder brother to me.”

He stressed that his political decisions are guided by personal conviction rather than avoidance of any individual. “I don’t run from anyone—never. My approach has always been to do things differently,” he added.

Obi’s remarks come amid heightened speculation over the relationship between the two prominent opposition figures, particularly after their failed attempt to build a united political front against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Both men had initially aligned under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as part of a broader coalition effort. Obi’s formal entry into the party on January 1, 2026, was welcomed by Atiku as a major boost to opposition unity.

However, the alliance soon unraveled due to internal disputes and protracted legal battles within the party. Obi eventually exited the ADC alongside former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, citing concerns over what he termed “litigation-driven politics.”

He has since moved to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), signaling a fresh attempt to reposition himself within Nigeria’s evolving opposition landscape ahead of 2027.