Veteran journalist and political commentator Dele Momodu has publicly urged former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi to accept a prospective offer to join former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election. Momodu’s comments come amid growing speculation about Atiku’s choice of a southern politician to strengthen his ticket and broaden his appeal across Nigeria.
According to Momodu, Atiku’s bloc within the African Democratic Congress, ADC, is actively searching for a capable southern politician to serve as his running mate. Peter Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party, has reportedly been the top candidate. However, sources suggest that if Obi declines, Atiku may consider former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi as an alternative.
Speaking with Sunday Punch, Momodu emphasized the strategic importance of an Obi-Atiku alliance. He described the two politicians as the figures most capable of forming the strongest opposition coalition Nigeria has seen since the 2019 election. Momodu also recalled that Atiku and Obi previously ran on a joint ticket in 2019 under the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, but were defeated by then-incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.
Momodu expressed frustration over public pushback from Obi’s supporters, who he claims are contributing to delays in finalizing the potential political union. He warned that hesitation could cost Obi a significant opportunity to be part of a powerful opposition platform.
“That is why they are trying to make every party have only southern candidates. They don’t want any strong opposition from the opposite direction. There is no way any Southern candidate can defeat Tinubu,” Momodu said. “If Peter Obi does not take advantage of a ready-made union between him and Atiku, it would be very unfortunate. It would be as good as working for Tinubu to come back.”
Momodu further indicated that if Obi opts out, Rotimi Amaechi could become Atiku’s running mate. He highlighted Amaechi’s significant political influence, stating, “A lot of people are underrating Amaechi. Amaechi single-handedly handed power to Buhari. What the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, is doing now, though in an unruly manner, Amaechi did quite well when he was governor of Rivers State. Amaechi mobilized more than any other person for Buhari, even more than Tinubu. If Obi does not make up his mind or chooses to run alone, then I believe the mantle might fall on Rotimi Amaechi.”
Addressing the urgency of making political decisions, Momodu added, “I have told Obi. There is no time. The person you want to dislodge is already the President. He has everything. He is either coercing or cajoling the governors and senators to join him. He wants to present a false alibi that everybody loves him. He knows what he is doing. He wants to create a false image of someone who cannot be defeated, so that when they succeed at doing their manipulation, they will say, ‘What did you expect?’ Despite all their shenanigans in 2023, they lost Lagos to Obi. They lost Osun to Governor Ademola Adeleke. Obi needs to make up his mind. For now, I don’t know his party. PDP is crumbling, LP has crumbled. Where does he want to go?”
Momodu’s warnings reflect the high stakes of Nigeria’s 2027 elections. With the political landscape evolving rapidly, key decisions regarding alliances, running mates, and party affiliations could prove decisive in shaping voter sentiment and the balance of power across the country. Analysts suggest that an Obi-Atiku ticket would consolidate opposition forces and create a formidable challenge to the ruling party, while failure to act could fragment support and open the door for other contenders.
The commentary also underscores the growing tension within opposition ranks, as leaders and political stakeholders work to position themselves strategically ahead of the upcoming elections. With only a few years remaining until the polls, every decision regarding alliances, ticket composition, and campaign strategy is expected to have far-reaching implications for the future of Nigerian politics.
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