Former Anambra State governor Peter Obi has dismissed suggestions that he is avoiding former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Obi spoke on Friday during the Spier Dialogue 2026 in Cape Town, where he described Atiku as a respected leader and elder brother.
According to him, there is no personal rift between them despite recent political changes that saw them leave a coalition they once shared.
“There are very few human beings who are as close as I am to Atiku. So I can’t be running from him. This man is my very respected leader and elder brother,” Obi said.
He added that his political decisions were based on principle and not fear of any individual.
Obi and Atiku had earlier aligned under the African Democratic Congress as part of efforts to build a strong opposition coalition against President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election.
However, the alliance later collapsed following internal disagreements and legal disputes within the party.
Obi later left the coalition alongside Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, with both politicians criticising the party over what they described as distractions caused by internal litigation.
The former Labour Party presidential candidate maintained that his relationship with Atiku remains cordial despite the political developments.
