Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has said any agreement to form a formidable opposition alliance ahead of the 2027 presidential election must be negotiated and decided by the political parties involved, rather than by individual candidates.
Obi, who spoke in an interview with Arise News on Thursday, refused to commit to stepping down for former vice president Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of African Democratic Congress, in the event of an opposition coalition, saying the issue had moved beyond individual politicians to negotiations between political institutions.
He also rejected the suggestion that he could unilaterally decide to withdraw from the presidential race or accept a vice-presidential position under Atiku.
The former Anambra State governor said the NDC has candidates contesting various elective positions and that any decision on a possible alliance would have to take into account the interests of the people and structures within the parties.
“I respect institutions that I’m coming from. Whatever decision that I’m going to take will be as a result of the decision of all of us. Not just Mr. Peter Obi acting,” he said.
