According to an exclusive by The PUNCH, fresh details have emerged suggesting that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has offered Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, the vice-presidential slot on a proposed joint ticket ahead of the 2027 elections.

Multiple unnamed sources involved in the coalition discussions revealed to The PUNCH that the offer was made during a private meeting between the two leaders earlier this year in the United Kingdom. The proposed deal would see Atiku run for a single four-year term before handing over to Obi.

Obi, who previously ran alongside Atiku as his VP candidate in 2019 under the PDP, is said to be open to the idea but is currently consulting with key loyalists before making any commitments public.

This renewed alliance comes amid internal crises within both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), raising the possibility that the pair might run on an alternative platform. The PUNCH reports that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is being seriously considered as a neutral base for the opposition coalition, especially as both the PDP and LP continue to grapple with factional leadership struggles.

While Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, confirmed ongoing coalition discussions, he declined to speak on any formal agreement. Similarly, close allies of Obi remained tight-lipped, with some stating the former Anambra governor is still focused on resolving internal disputes within LP.

Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the ADC, Ralph Nwosu, told The PUNCH that the party is in talks with “all major stakeholders,” including other opposition figures and even some from the ruling APC, with plans to announce significant developments soon.

Despite these high-level conversations, opposition to Atiku’s ambition is growing within the PDP. A party chieftain, Diran Odeyemi, criticized Atiku’s repeated bids for the presidency, urging him to step aside for newer faces. “Atiku is not Abraham Lincoln,” he said, adding, “He should rest. His desperation is what has left the PDP where it is today.”

Nonetheless, the possibility of an Atiku–Obi ticket has sparked widespread political debate, with many speculating on whether this strategic alliance can challenge President Bola Tinubu’s dominance in 2027.

— Reported by The PUNCH