No Talks on Peter Obi Serving as Atiku’s Running Mate

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Yunusa Tanko, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, has dismissed claims that Peter Obi is weighing the option of becoming a vice-presidential candidate in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.

Speaking in an interview with Punch, Tanko stated unequivocally that there have been no conversations about Obi serving as a running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or to any other candidate.

He stressed that Obi’s political objective remains clear and unchanged — to contest for the presidency of Nigeria.

“We have never discussed that option. Peter Obi is running for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria — nothing more, nothing less. There is no conversation whatsoever about him becoming a vice president, and we have already issued a statement to make that clear,” Tanko affirmed.

The clarification comes amid an ongoing public exchange involving African Democratic Congress (ADC) figure Dele Momodu and political economist Professor Pat Utomi regarding Obi’s possible role in a proposed 2027 political coalition.

Utomi had previously stated during a television interview that he would withdraw his backing for Obi if the former Anambra State governor agreed to run as a vice-presidential candidate under any alliance arrangement.

Reacting to Utomi’s position, Momodu criticized what he described as a rigid and undemocratic approach. He argued that insisting Obi must not serve as a running mate fails to reflect the realities of coalition politics.

“Anyone who insists that Obi must not run behind another candidate is clearly not a democrat committed to rescuing Nigeria from one-man dominance,” Momodu wrote.

Despite his disagreement, Momodu acknowledged his respect for Utomi and their longstanding relationship, but maintained that Nigeria’s current political climate calls for flexibility and pragmatic decision-making rather than strict idealism.

Tanko’s remarks, however, reinforce that within the Obidient Movement, Obi’s ambition is firmly set on the presidency, with no alternative political arrangement under consideration.