Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) candidate in the 2023 presidential election, has expressed openness to any political merger aimed at bettering Nigeria and ensuring proper governance.
According to the report, the All Progressives Congress (APC) accused Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of being united by a mutual desperation to become President of Nigeria, coupled with a disdain for Bola Tinubu’s efforts to transform the nation.
Atiku, the PDP’s presidential candidate in the last election, and Obi both lost to Bola Tinubu of the APC. In a recent interview with BBC Hausa Service, Atiku stated that if the PDP decides to nominate a candidate from the southeast in 2027 and chooses Obi, he would fully support him.
Similarly, Akin Osuntokun, the former Director-General of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, noted that Obi might consider returning to the PDP under specific circumstances. Given Obi’s substantial support base in the last election, Osuntokun suggested that the only scenario in which Obi might rejoin the PDP would be if he is offered the party’s presidential ticket.
During an interview with BBC Hausa, Atiku reiterated his willingness to support any PDP candidate in 2027, even if the candidate is from the southeast.
In an interview with NoireTV over the weekend, Obi emphasized that any potential merger must focus on enhancing governance and helping the poor, rather than simply aiming to win elections or gain political power.
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He said; “I commend Atiku for his statement, especially where he said he will support me if it goes to the South East.
“On the issue of a merger and the coming together of parties, I have always said that as long as any merger or any coming together is to better Nigeria and for governing properly, I am for it.
“If it is just a merger for election or state capture, I’m not for it. I am not desperate to be president, I am desperate to see Nigeria work, especially for the poor, because we have a lot of potential.”
He added, “So if the merger is to be able to govern Nigeria properly on all those things that will make Nigeria a better place, I am for it.
“If the merger is to be able to govern Nigeria properly and work for all those things that would make Nigeria become a better place, I am for it.
“It might be at the party level, it might be at the individual level or at any level, we must come together to be able to build a better Nigeria,” he said.
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