Nigeria’s former Vice President and the 2023 Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has said that he would offer his support if the presidential ticket became zoned to the South-East and zeroes in on Peter Obi.
Both men ran on the same ticket in the 2019 election with Peter Obi as Running Mate to Atiku, but lost to Muhammadu Buhari who secured a second term.
For the 2023 polls, Obi crossed into and clinched the ticket of the Labour Party.
Atiku spoke during a recent interview with BBC Hausa.
The former Vice President was asked about his 2027 presidential ambition.
He answered: “That would depend on the decision of my party. I can’t make any categorical statement on that. It’s the duty of the party to decide on the way to go in the next election.
“I have said repeatedly and I even said it before the 2023 general elections that if the PDP decides to zone the presidential ticket to the South or South-East specifically, I won’t contest it. As long as it’s the decision of the party, I will abide by it. But I contested the 2023 presidential ticket because it was thrown open to all members of the party.
“If the party decides that it’s the turn of the South-East and Peter Obi is chosen, I won’t hesitate to support him.”
He also spoke on his recent meeting with Peter Obi in Abuja.
Atiku said: “It’s just a normal friendly meeting that we often have, particularly among us in the opposition parties. Such meetings are healthy for Nigeria’s democracy and in the country’s interest.
“We can merge to achieve a common goal. So, it’s possible, and nothing can stop it if we wish to achieve that.”
The former Vice President denied that the choice of presidential candidate might frustrate the merger discussion.
“That’s not true. That challenge will not arise. I can tell you that the choice of who will fly the flag of the party won’t be an issue,” he said
He explained why remained in active politics.
Atiku explained: “We can’t keep quiet and watch things go wrong. People are suffering and we are committed to making Nigeria a better place. It means you are not tired of politics of Nigeria? Not at all. I am still in active politics in Nigeria, at least, as long as God permits. My age doesn’t stop the young ones from testing their fate. Everybody, irrespective of age, is allowed to aspire to be anybody in the society, politically or otherwise.”
