By Bayero Ade
Former presidential candidates Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) have dismissed rumors linking their recent meeting to plans for the 2027 presidential election.
The speculation arose after the two leaders met over breakfast in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, ahead of the 20th anniversary and 16th Founder’s Day celebration of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), an institution established by Atiku.
Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, clarified that the meeting was a friendly engagement without political undertones. According to Ibe, Obi attended the event as the keynote speaker to mark the university’s milestone.
“There’s no need to overanalyze this. Obi was invited to deliver the keynote address at AUN’s anniversary, which is a significant occasion. Atiku, as the university’s founder, hosted him. This was simply two old friends reconnecting,” Ibe said.
He further explained that their breakfast meeting was unrelated to politics, saying, “The program followed naturally after breakfast. It’s important to understand that politics does not erase friendships.”
Obi’s media aide, Ibrahim Umar, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that the visit had no political agenda. “The invitation was strictly for him to give a speech at the event. There’s nothing more to it,” Umar stated.
Despite these explanations, rumors persist about a potential alliance between the PDP and LP ahead of the 2027 elections. Political analysts speculate that such a coalition could create a strong opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Atiku and Obi previously collaborated as running mates on the PDP ticket during the 2019 presidential election, further fueling public curiosity about their recent interaction.
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