Peter Obi Denies Avoiding Atiku Ahead of 2027 Election

Former Anambra State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential aspirant, Peter Obi, has dismissed claims that he is distancing himself from former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 general election.

Obi spoke on Friday in Cape Town, South Africa, during the Spier Dialogue 2026, a pan-African governance forum.

According to him, his relationship with Atiku remains cordial and respectful.

“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 respected leader and elder brother,” Obi said.
“I don’t run from him — never. It has nothing to do with avoiding anybody. I simply believe in doing things differently.”

His comments come amid recent political tensions between both leaders following the collapse of their coalition alliance.

Obi and Atiku had previously adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a joint platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Obi officially joined the ADC on January 1, 2026, a move Atiku described at the time as a major milestone in opposition coalition-building.

However, the alliance later broke down after Obi cited unresolved internal disputes and persistent legal battles within the party as reasons for his exit. He stressed that his decision was not driven by personal disagreements with Atiku or ADC chairman David Mark.

Following their departure from the ADC, Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), where they called for an end to litigation-driven politics in Nigeria.