RismadarVoice Reporters
May 23, 2026
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, insisting that there is no strain in their personal relationship.
Obi made the clarification on Friday in Cape Town, South Africa, during the Spier Dialogue 2026, a pan-African governance forum where political and policy leaders gathered to discuss issues affecting the continent.
Responding to growing speculation over his political relationship with Atiku, Obi described the former vice president as a respected leader and close ally.
“There are very few human beings who are as close to Atiku as I am. So I can’t be running from him. This man is my very respected leader and elder brother,” Obi said.
“I don’t run from him. Never. It has nothing to do with running from anybody. I’ve never run from anybody. I just believe that I do things differently,” he added.
Obi’s remarks come amid heightened political conversations surrounding opposition alliances and emerging power blocs ahead of the 2027 presidential race.
The comments also follow recent developments in the relationship between Obi and Atiku after both politicians initially adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a coalition platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the next election cycle.
At the time, Obi’s formal entry into the ADC on January 1, 2026, had been welcomed by Atiku, who described it as a major step toward opposition unity and coalition-building in Nigeria.
However, the alliance later collapsed amid internal disagreements within the party.
Explaining his departure from the ADC, Obi had maintained that his decision was not driven by personal differences with Atiku or the party leadership, but by concerns over unresolved internal disputes and persistent legal battles that, according to him, shifted attention away from national priorities.
Following his exit, Obi, alongside former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress, where both politicians advocated an end to what they described as litigation-driven politics.
