The Obidient Movement has dismissed reports suggesting that Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has been offered the vice-presidential slot in a proposed 2027 coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
In a statement on Monday, May 19, signed by Nana Kazaure, the group’s Director of Strategic Communications and Media, the movement described the claim as “entirely baseless” and “imaginary to the author”.
“The Obidient Movement has been inundated with calls from our members within and outside the country, including other members of the public, regarding a media publication claiming that our principal, Peter Obi, has been offered a running mate position to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the new coalition being formed ahead of 2027,” the statement read.
“Even though the publication is imaginary to the author, we find it appropriate to react in view of possible far-reaching misconceptions in the public space.”
While confirming that Obi has held talks with various political figures, the group said these engagements are not about power-sharing but focused on solving Nigeria’s pressing challenges.
“Without any risk of contradiction, we would like to reiterate that Mr Obi has maintained that his objective and his involvement in a coalition is to provide a united front against and to tackle issues of bad governance, corruption, hunger, poverty, poor healthcare, out-of-school children, and the myriad of other problems daily afflicting the people of Nigeria,” the statement continued.
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“We want politics that is progressive, standing firmly with the people and serving the great people of Nigeria, not politics just for the sake of grabbing power.”
The movement also reaffirmed Obi’s loyalty to the Labour Party, adding: “At this point in time, Mr Peter Obi remains in the Labour Party, and if ever this changes, he will make that announcement himself.”
Echoing this stance, Obi told the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Kubwa during a visit to Abuja on Monday that his focus remains on issue-based politics.
“I am in a coalition against hunger, in coalition against poverty, coalition against bad state of health. Politics for me is not about position, it is about doing the right thing,” he said.
“In this country, we talk about politics and abandon what we should be talking about. What we should be talking about is how we are going to educate the children.”
He rejected claims that he had agreed to serve as anyone’s running mate in 2027, saying such reports are driven by “politics of selfish ambitions detrimental to the growth of the country.”
Obi finished third in the 2023 presidential race behind Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar but remains a central opposition figure, with speculation mounting over possible alliances ahead of the next election. Still, he and his supporters continue to prioritise substance over political convenience.