Atiku, Obi deny 2027 joint ticket rumors after viral breakfast meeting

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi have both dismissed rumors of a potential alliance for a joint presidential ticket in the 2027 elections.

The speculation arose after a video of the two political figures having breakfast at Atiku’s residence in Adamawa State went viral on Saturday, sparking widespread discussions about a possible pre-election partnership.

In the video, shared by Atiku on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, the two leaders were seen having a meal together with other individuals, believed to be high-ranking members of both their parties.

Atiku captioned the post, “It is breakfast time with my friend, #PeterObi, in the ‘land of beauty’.”

The video quickly fueled speculation, with many interpreting the casual meeting as a sign of collaboration for the upcoming elections. However, both leaders have moved swiftly to address the rumors.

Atiku’s Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, responded with a statement clarifying that the breakfast meeting was a personal reunion, not a political strategy session.

He emphasized that Obi had been invited as a keynote speaker for the 20th anniversary of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), which was founded by Atiku. Ibe explained that Obi’s attendance was part of AUN’s celebration, and the meeting should not be seen as a political maneuver.

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“Let us not jump the gun. The fact is that Obi accepted to be the keynote speaker at the 20th anniversary of AUN and the 16th Founder’s Day, which was a milestone.

Obi is part of that celebration,” Ibe stated. “Politics cannot separate friends. Atiku invited him to breakfast, and from there, they went for the program. I think that is what happened.”

Obi’s media aide, Ibrahim Umar, also dismissed the rumors, calling them laughable.

He reiterated that the meeting was merely a reunion between two old friends and had no political undertones. “It has nothing to do with politics. Of course, people will always assume things,” Umar said.

The denial of a potential joint ticket has put an end to the speculation, for now. However, experts note that as Nigeria’s political landscape evolves, such rumors are inevitable, especially in the lead-up to the next presidential election.

Political analysts suggest that while the two leaders may not be discussing a joint ticket at this point, their future political strategies remain fluid as they look toward the 2027 race.