Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has stated that he is ready to step aside if his co-presidential aspirant, Peter Obi, emerges as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate in 2027.
Atiku stated this while fielding questions during an interview on Arise News on Wednesday evening.
He was asked directly whether he would step aside if Obi wins the ADC presidential primary, and he replied affirmatively.
Atiku and Peter Obi are regarded as the front-runners for ADC’s presidential ticket.
Others, such as Rabiu Kwankwaso and Rotimi Amaechi, are also believed to be in the running for the ADC ticket.
When asked if he would step down for Obi if the former Labour Party presidential candidate gets the ADC ticket, Atiku said, “Yes, I will step aside for any winner.”
Asked if “any winner includes Peter Obi”, Atiku said, “Of course, if he is a contender, why not?”
Further asked if it would not be difficult for him to do so since Obi was his vice presidential running mate, Atiku said, “What is difficult there? It is democracy. It is either you go through consensus or you go through election. You emerge through consensus or emerge through the electoral process.”
Meanwhile, Atiku has expressed optimism that the North will rally behind him in the 2027 general election.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that Atiku stated this on Wednesday while fielding questions on Arise Television’s Prime Time program.
According to Atiku, the North remains his major political base, recalling the outcome of the 2023 election, where he won more northern states than other presidential candidates.
Atiku emphasised that the North politically appears much more united now than ever.
He said, “The North still remains my major political base because I won more northern states than many other states. I won only two in the South-West.
“I don’t think I won any in the South-East, right? Even politically, the North appears much more united now than ever. The majority of the North will always come together.
“The North will always rally behind me because that’s my political base as South-East is the political base of Mr Peter Obi and South-South political base of Rotimi Amaechi.”