By Charles Maduka
A former presidential candidate and close ally of ex–Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Dele Momodu, has ruled out any possibility of Atiku stepping down from the 2027 presidential race in favour of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi. Momodu said Atiku remains fully committed to contesting the election and has no reason to abandon his ambition.
Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 election, formally joined the African Democratic Congress in November 2025 after resigning from the PDP. The move was widely seen as a strategic step towards securing the ADC’s presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general election. Obi also defected from the Labour Party to the ADC last week, a development many observers view as part of a broader opposition realignment against President Bola Tinubu.
Speculation had recently emerged that Atiku might withdraw for Obi based on an alleged agreement that Obi would serve a single four-year term and hand over power in 2031. However, speaking in an interview with PUNCH Online in Abuja, Momodu dismissed the rumour, saying calls for Atiku to step aside are largely driven by prejudice. He argued that Atiku’s age is being unfairly used against him, noting that there is no evidence that he is less healthy or less qualified than President Tinubu.
Momodu described attempts to discredit Atiku as a recurring narrative in the media, insisting that the former vice president’s experience, education and contributions to democracy place him above many of his contemporaries. He said Atiku should not be pressured to sacrifice his ambition based on emotions or sentiments, adding that such a demand would be unjust and damaging to democratic choice.
Meanwhile, rights activist and former senator, Shehu Sani, cautioned Nigerians against taking politicians’ public statements as final, noting that political decisions often change in the so-called national interest. Despite public denials, reports suggest ongoing discussions between Atiku and Obi aimed at building a united opposition platform under the ADC, with both men and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi expected to battle for the party’s presidential ticket ahead of 2027.
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